LIBMRY OF CONGRESS. 



|k^ - mw¥'i Ifo - 1 

t UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, f 



NATURE'S LAWS 



IN 



HUMAN LIFE: 

AN 

EXPOSITION OF SPIRITUALISM; 

EMBRACING 
THE VARIOUS OPINIONS OF EXTREMISTS, PRO AND CON y 



BY THE AUTHOK OF '-VITAL MAGNETIC CURE. 5^: 



^m. 



.-\^'^ 



BOSTON: " / 



WILLIAM WHITE AND COMPANY. 

158 Washington Street. 
NEW YORK AGENTS : THE AMEIJCAN NEWS COMPANY, 

119 Nassau Street. 

1872. 



y 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872 
BY WILLIAM WHITE & Co. * 
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 




DEDICATED 

TO ALL SEEKERS OF TRUTH IN HUMAN LIFE FORCES. 



CONTENTS, 



njTTRODUCTIOIsr" - 9 

PART I. 

TESTIMOlsrY AGAmST SPIRITUALISM 20 

General assertions 21 

Tractby Professor Austin Phelps D. D 22 

Opinions of Wiiliam T. D wight D.D 29 

■ Elder Knapp 34 

Comments of the Boston Traveller and Boston Herald . 50 

Statements of Dr. W. A. Hammond 52 

Church opposition .... - 53 

Father Hecker 54 

J. D. Fulton D. D., Rev. Mr. Morgan, P. T. Bamum . 55 
Scientific men and organized institutions 56 

PABT II. 

CONSERVATISM . . • 57 

OpinionofRev. H. W. Beecher 58 

.. Theodore Tilton ........ 62 

.. W. H. H. Murray 63 

PART III. 

TESTIMONY IN FAVOR OF SPIRITUALISM .... 65 

The Hebrew and Christian Scriptures 

Mediumship of Mrs. J. H. Conant 69 

Invocation 70 



VI. CONTENTS. 

TESTIMONY IN FAVOR OF SPIRITUALISM continued . 65 

The Seance 71 

Communication from Rev. Ezra S. Gannett D. D. . . . 72 
William Wesselhoefft M. D. . . . 74 

Reliability of Spirit Communications .77 

Psychic Force , . . 82 

OUR EXPERIENCE .86 

MEDIUMSHIP 109 

Additional facts— Rev. Dr. Phelps sen 114 

Spirit Likenesses 150 

Spiritualism at Methodist Camp Meetings 153 

PRESENTIMENT— DREAMING— PROPHECY . . . .157 

Detection of Crime , 167 

Verification of Dreams 170 

SPIRITUALISM IN COURT 176 

WHAT GOOD HAS SPIRITUALISM DONE? . . . . .194 

Medical cases — Injury of the knee-joint 195 

A lady who had been pronounced hopeless, restored . 197 

Insanity 198 

Rheumatism and Cancer— Hon. Neal Dow ...... 200 

Injury from a fall 203' 

Alleged cupidity of healers . . . 204 

DUPLEX CHARACTER OF OPPOSING TESTIMONY 207 

Elder Knapp— Letter from California 

Rev. J. D. Fulton D. D . 212 

Dr. W. A. Hammond 213 

Ely, Von Vleck, Barnum, Thomas L. Harris and others 214 

Rev. G. H. Hepworth . . . . 218 

SEANCES— CONDITIONS AND RULES ....... 219 

MISCELLANEOUS FACTS IN SPIRITUAL EXPERI- 
ENCE 228 

Professor J. H. Von Fichte 240 

The Double . 241 

President Lincoln 

The Darwinian theory 243 

The doctrine of Re-incarnation 244 

Obsession 247 

The Dread Future • 251 

The co-relation of spiritual and psychological phenomena254 

Planchette and Gates Ajar , 256 

Organization 257 



CONTENTS. VU 

€IVIL AND SOCIAL RIGHTS 260 

Equal Eights and Woman Suflfrage 

Free Love • . 262 

Marriage 269 

Divorce 274 

Communism 277 

PART IV. 

RELIGIOUS ASPECTS AND RELATIONS OF SPIRIT- 
UALISM 283 

Comments on Religious Organizations 

Spiritualism in the Bible 299 

CONCLUSION 307 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 



INTEODUCTION. 

The literature of Spiritualism, comprising the histo- 
ry of its phenomena, and^the enunciation of doctrines 
which have received either the unqualified and cred- 
ulous assent of believers, or called forth the criti- 
cism of opposers, remonstrant, argumentative, captious 
or cynical, has already become very voluminous. Lec- 
ture after lecture, uttered either in the normal condi- 
tion, or as claimed by the speaker, delivered through the 
inspirational influx from a higher source of intelligence, 
the human organism being employed as the medium of 
communication with the outer world, has been reported 
and published. Treatises, from the modest pamphlet 
to the more pretentious book of large proportions, have 
so rapidly appeared, that as to quantity the supply has 
become almost oppressive. Yet no one has thus far 
been presented to the world, having the precise 
scope, which it is the purpose of the present underta- 
king to comprise. Much that has found its way to the 



10 nature's laws 

reading public has been highly objectionable to many 
minds, upon whose pre-conceived ideas, derived from 
educational bias, the subject matter has made revolu- 
tionary encroachments ; to others it has been curious 
and startling ; and again by others, it has been accepted 
as a new revelation, having the weight of undeniable 
authority. In proportion to its real or supposed impor- 
tance, has it thus met with unlimited praise, indifference, 
or violent denunciation. While we cannot regard 
practical issues with indifference, but must, in common 
with all observers of passing events, form some sort of 
opinion upon topics which, in the march of progress, 
agitate the public mind ; we do not presume to make 
our convictions the test of any one's orthodoxy, but 
yield to all full freedom in exercising the right of pri- 
vate judgment. 

Unquestionably the truest method of securing a right 
appreciation of the merits or demerits of any subject, is 
to place it before the investigator, in all its various as- 
pects, rather than to present a partial view drawn from 
the prejudiced representations of interested partisans. 

To this end we have collated the respective opinions 
openly expressed in advocacy or repudiation of the 
main tenets, giving the facts alleged to be the basis of 
support to these opposite opinions, and the practical 
consequences to which, it is claimed, they severally 
lead. This contrast gives aniple facility for compari- 
son, and leaves no one who will bestow upon it a 
candid investigation, in ignorance of the real bearing 
of the whole subject. 

Following this order of narrative, we append a 



IN HUIVIAN LIFE. 11 

statement of the facts derived from our own observa- 
tion and experience, with such reflections as seem to 
form a legitimate deduction. These are sufficient to 
enable the reader to answer categorically, in his own 
mind, the question whether there is truth at the foun- 
dation of the claims set forth in reference to Spiritual- 
ism. 

But were we to rest merely with the collation and 
comparison of the basic facts and inferences, much that 
is of philosophical interest and of practical value would 
be left out of consideration. We therefore proceed to 
the discussion of a variety of topics which necessarily 
depend upon either the affirmative or negative answer 
to the main question. 

K it is conceded that the phenomena themselves have 
actually occurred, as represented now by innumerable 
witnesses, there must be a significance in them. 
Either the world has been imposed upon by a stupen- 
dous fraud, or a wide-spread delusion on the one hand ; 
or involving as it must, if true, the future destiny and 
welfare of the human family on the other, its impor- 
tance is unquestionably paramount to that of all other 
moral forces. 

With the diffusion of intelligence, the public mind 
becomes emancipated from the thraldom of dogmatic 
authority. But freedom from such restraint must be 
authorized only by substantial knowledge, patiently 
acquired, and well grounded. Liberty must not degen- 
erate into license. 

In treating the subject adversely, there has been a 
strong tendency, as will be seen from the passages ci- 



12 

ted, to depart from the strict controversial line, indul- 
ging in sweeping charges against the personal character 
of its adherents. The morality of mediums and advo- 
cates has been impeached, their motives impugned, and 
the most sordid and charlatanic disposition attributed to 
them. x4.nd occasionally the critic who has assumed 
an antagonistic attitude, has descended to vituperation 
and ribaldry. 

Not all however, are thus uncourteously inclined. 
Among disbelievers there are those who see in .its prog- 
ress, as viewed from their stand-point, nothing but de- 
structive radicalism, sapping the foundation of revealed 
religion. Not imputing to the inquirers into the mean- 
ing of the phenomena, intentional sin, they nevertheless 
conscientiously regard the search as the indulgence of 
an unholy curiosity. Such a pursuit they consider not 
merely frivolous and unprofitable, but quote from their 
sacred records passages which according to the interpre- 
tation which they put upon them, expressly forbid it; 
consequently that their eternal salvation is jeopardized 
thereby. With such conscientious convictions, as the 
result of the application of their theological education, 
it becomes their religious duty to warn their fellow be- 
ings against the continuance of unwarrantable investiga- 
tion into the nature of prohibited phenomena. Not 
disputing the manifestations, of many of which they 
have themselves been eye-witnesses, and failing to find 
a satisfactory solution in any of the numerous explana- 
tions heretofore offered by skeptical observers, they at- 
tribute them at last to satanic agency, and hence the 
tocsin of alarm which they have vigorously sounded. 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 13 

warning their people who were attracted to the inves- 
tigation, to flee from the impending divine wrath. 
Many religious teachers there are who, notwithstanding 
the rigidity of the same method of culture through which 
they have passed, are liberal minded. They do not 
interdict such a line of investigation, as unwarrantable 
in persons religiously disposed, but are willing to ac- 
knowledge with the poet that truth should be accepted 
wherever found, "on Christian or on heathen ground." 
Recognizing certain facts, established by unimpeachable 
testimony, they endeavor manfully to dispose of them 
by referring them to the operation of some previously 
known law, but which is now expending its force in a 
new direction. It has been customary to refer every 
thing which was not understood, to electricity, which 
evades responsibility, and gets rid of the trouble of 
seeking for a cause of new phenomena. This still 
continues to be accepted by many as a sufficient Expla- 
nation, yet the most delicate electrometer has failed 
to detect any variation in the electrical conditions of 
the surrounding atmosphere. 

It will at this day scarcely be credited that certain 
physicians in BuiFalo, N. Y., at an early period in the 
history of the modern manifestations, gravely asserted 
that the sounds known as raps, heard to be made on 
tables or other articles of furniture, or solid substances 
of various kinds were caused by the snapping of the 
medium's toe-joints. So far as that wild explanation 
was concerned, it was easily to be tested by any one of 
common sense. But little progress had then been 
made in the curious facts developed. If up to that time, 



14 

there had been nothing seen or heard beyond mere phys- 
ical phenomena, apparently destitute of meaning, any 
person of ordinary acuteness was capable of ascertaining 
whether the sounds were or could be produced by 
throwing the toes out of joint, and in again, a circum- 
stance familiar to every one. There was however, no 
resemblance between the sounds which can be thus pro- 
duced, and those which were heard during the sittings 
of mediums. The latter sounds will be readily recog- 
nized by the thousands who have heard them, if we de- 
cribe one of them of a medium degree of power, to be 
midway between the sharp concussion heard on the emis- 
sion of a spark from an ordinary magneto-electrical 
machine, of moderate intensity, and that caused by 
striking the knuckles upon the table. It conveys an im- 
pression, as if proceeding from the interior of the wood. 
Toe-snapping causes no such sound. As regards the 
fact, ^ was soon settled beyond controversy, and surely 
those who had ventured upon such a ridiculous hypoth- 
esis, must now be heartily ashamed of their hasty wis- 
dom. But we will not anticipate. 

Mental phenomena following immediately upon the 
physical, the explanation began to tax the ingenuity of 
philosophers and scientists. Facts known to the inves- 
tigator exclusively, were given in response to specific 
inquiries, and then spontaneously without the putting 
of leading questions. But the facts belonging to this 
particular class being already known to him, the sug- 
gestion was at once made, and in all fairness, that they 
were educed by the reflection of one mind upon another. 
Science would have accepted this as a final explanation 



m HUMAN LIFE. 15 

had the limit of development been reached. Bat how 
would it apply to the elimination of new facts, not pre- 
viously known to either the medium or the inquirer? 
A source of intelligence must exist somewhere in such 
cases, and it puzzled the brain of the philosopher to find 
it in any field of inquiry wliich he had hitherto ex- 
plored. We trust sufficient light will be tlirown upon 
it in the following pages, to relieve any new inquirer, 
who has not had opportunity, or inclination to agitate 
the subject in his own mind, from the embarrassment 
which beset the earlier seekers. 

Going a step still farther, what shall be said of pro- 
phetic communications? We have supposed in refer- 
ence to the class of facts last named, that they, or some 
of them were known to some one, although not to either 
of the parties immediately concerned in the inquiry, 
nor within the possibility of verification at the time, 
but wliich were subsequently ascertained to be true by 
indisputable evidence. If reflex cerebral action failed 
to account for these, how much more difficult is it to 
explain a forthcoming fact, still unknown in our mun- 
dane sphere? But again, we must not anticipate. 

Besides those occupying the middle ground of com- 
parative indifierence — friendly neutrality or who ex- 
ercise a spirit of toleration in reference to all that may 
have grown out of the development of the phenomena, 
there are the unvdse extremists among believers, who 
not only surrender their own reason in the extravagance 
of unquestioning faith, but propagate dogmas which are 
fanatical in theory, and ^carry out in* daily jiractice, the 
premature conclusions of an unbridled fiincy. Repu- 



16 nature's laws 

diating the authority of what they term old theology, 
they submit to the new and unknown authority received 
through their medium, setting aside the injunction of 
John in the Christian scriptures, and endorsed by the 
best reasoners to " believe not every spirit, but try the 
spirits." They repose unlimited confidence in the va- 
lidity of the statements given to them in that way. In 
some instances, they have by their practices, shocked 
the moral sense of the community in which they live, 
or have temporarily sojourned, so as to bring disrepute 
upon the cause they were professing to advocate ; thus 
putting themselves on a level with the degenerate por- 
tion of their opponents in and out of churches, who 
have strayed from the path of rectitude ; instead of 
showing to the world a purer practice resulting from a 
more elevated philosophy, and revelation of truth. 

A f^u•ther class to be included in the public expo- 
nents, are the imposters, who pretend to believe wheth- 
er they do or not, in the facts of Spiritualism. The 
reader is supposed to be sufficiently intelligent to super- 
cede the necessity of any exposition on our part, of the 
character, and lack of moral worth of such people. So 
numerous are the adventurers in this world, in the 
present state of society, that there has never yet ap- 
peared a genuine production without its counterfeiters, 
more or less numerous. The best organizations — soci- 
eties both secular and religious, of the highest preten- 
tions, furnish sufficient examples of this, to make the 
honest man blush for the human race. 

Such are time-servers, who .always espouse the popu- 
lar side. Their vacillating opinions and varying con- 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 17 

duct destroy the value of their testimony on either side 
of* any cause. If an umpire should put them in the 
scale in weighing the testimony for and against, they 
should be classed with the opponents of the cause they 
profess to advocate, (for it is with them that they real- 
ly fraternize) or they should be thrown out of the esti- 
mate altogether. Every good cause suffers by wolves 
in sheep's clothing. In his false dress, the wolf is 
much more dangerous to the flock than the open raider, 
whose ferocity is undisguised. 

Among the evidence in favor of Spiritualism, we 
have selected passages from the published discourses of 
Normal, Trance, and Inspirational Speakers, which of 
course, are expected to embody the best representative 
opinions on the affirmative side. 

Although the spread of Spiritualism has been very 
rapid, and large accessions are constantly being 
made to the ranks of its adherents, it is still on trial in 
the minds of vast numbers of earnest seekers after 
truth, and it behooves each one to bring to its study a 
determination to conduct the research in an unprejudiced 
manner, so as to ascertain the exact truth. It is con- 
trary to the spirit of the age to ignore facts, lest they 
should be found to interfere with previous misconcep- 
tions ; or to refuse to institute a candid, honest in- 
quiry into the existence and meaning of phenomena 
alleged to be new, because they are irreconcilable with 
a favorite theory. The manly course to pursue is to 
use the God-like reason with which we are endowed, 
and which is given us that we may be enabled to 
search after truth successfully, and ascertain for our- 



18 nature's laws 

selves the laws of Universal Nature, wherever that 
search may lead us and whatever may be the result. 
There are not wanting instances of men in high so- 
cial, political and professional positions who began 
such an investigation into the alleged facts and phi- 
losophy of Spiritualism, with the expectation of being 
able to expose its groundlessness ; but who were imbued 
with a spirit of candor, who had before them a scientif- 
ic and a moral purpose, and considered the public just 
as much entitled to the results of their investigation in 
case of failure, as in the successful realization of their 
expectations. 

The fact of immortality is admitted to be of the high- 
est importance, and if there is a future life, we must learn 
about it sooner or later ; and there must be a decided 
advantage on the part of those who place themselves in 
a condition of receptivity, so as to learn as much of the 
revelations concerning it, while passing through the or- 
dinary earth experience as possible. He who neglects 
his opportunities in this respect, sustains the greater 
loss. Our earthly life at the longest is but short, and 
a continued existence in a future state of being, must 
necessarily be designed for higher development, giving 
opportunity for increased happiness. To attain this our 
Kfe here must be regulated in accordance with moral 
and spiritual laws ; discharging its duties with fidelity, 
assuming its responsibilities with cheerful patience, and 
endeavoring by all appropriate means to place ourselves 
in a condition of due preparation for the enjoyment of 
the privileges of the higher life. This is a practical 
consideration in which all are equally interested, and 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 19 

is obviously of sufficient moment to justify us in in- 
viting the reader to an earnest examination of its claims 
upon his attention. A subject which so profoundly 
concerns human destiny cannot be passed by with indif- 
ference. As means to an end, there are also in this life 
numerous practical questions of a moral and social na- 
ture, which should enter into the consideration of all 
systems of moral philosophy and of religion, whose 
teachings, carried out in daily life, stamp an indelible 
impress on character and conduct. Spiritualism profes- 
ses to comprise within its work whatever has to do with 
the welfare of the human famUy. The measures thus 
comprehended will be discussed'in their proper order. 



20 nature's laws 



P_ART I. 



TESTIMONY AGAINST SPIEITUALISM. 



" The dead know not any thing." E ccl. ix, 5. 
''If a man die, shall he live ap^ain?" Job xiv, 14. 
" What positive proof have we of immortality?" 

Before quoting the statements of fact, and the ad- 
verse opinions which have been deduced from them on 
the one side, and gone forth as the well pronounced 
judgment of responsible critics, whose names are appen- 
ded to their animadversions, we shall enumerate a list 
of assertions which have passed from one to another, 
without the responsibility of authorship, until they have 
become common property. The less thoughtful, and the 
least reasoning portion of a community acquire their opin- 
ions by appropriating common gossip, and perverted 
statements as the basis, avoiding the trouble of experi- 
ment, reading, inquiry or reason. They reach conclu- 
sions by a short cut; and though their process of 
reasoning is superficial, they become enthusiastic and 
zealous partisans, the side which they espouse depending 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 21 

altogether upon accidental surrounding circumstances. 
How far the assertions enumerated are amenable to the 
foregoing criticism, can only be judged of by the 
reader, after he shall have weighed the evidence on 
both sides. We desire only that pre-conceived opinions, 
and the prejudices resulting from mis-statements, after 
hearing one side of the question brought up for consid- 
eration be laid aside, and that the same candor be ex- 
ercised in forming the judgement, which would be 
brought to the discussion of any other question. 



GENERAL ASSERTIONS. 

Spiritualists are a low set of people. 

They are immoral. 

They have no respect for the sabbath. 

They are licentious. 

They drink intoxicating drinks ; chew and smoke to- 
bacco. 

The female mediums are no better than prostitutes. 

Speaking mediums often after giving a lecture, go 
off and get drunk. 

Mediums and the believers in Spiritualism delight in 
making inharmony in the marriage relation, and try to 
break up families. 

They have no respect for good society, and are unfit 
associates for decent people. 

Those embracing the doctrines soon become demor- 
alized, inattentive to business, losing their property, 
and finally bring up in the Insane Asylum. 



22 nature's laws 

We thought well of such and such persons, until they 
became Spiritualists. 

We can trust them upon all subjects but one, and 
that is Spiritualism. 

He is going crazy since he has become a Spiritualist. 

No sensible, thinking person believes in the doctrines. 
Those who do are in their second childhood. 

Spiritualism has never taken any but persons of weak 
brains. 

They ignore the Bible as authority, and Jesus as 
God. 

They have no respect for our minister, or the laws of 
the country. 

They should not be allowed to utter their sacriligeous 
doctrines before the public ; the authorities should ar- 
rest them ; there should be a law to stop their proceed- 
ings. 

Spiritualism is nothing but electricity and magnetism. 

Spiritualism is all of the devil. 

It is frequently asked "What good has Spiritualism 
done?" 

If true, we are safe, but if not where are you? 

If it is true, what of it? 



PASSAGES FROM A TRACT ON SPIRITUALISM, 
BY PROFESSOR AUSTIN PHELPS D. D., OF ANDOVER. 

Spiritualism is not science. It has never yet as- 
sumed the order, the self-consistency, or the dignity of a 
science. Open its authorities, and what do you find 



m HUMAN LIFE. 23 

which has built up astronomy, chemistry, geology, or 
even the more mobile science of political economy? 
In comparison with these, Spiritualism plunges us head- 
long into "chaos and old night." Specially, its laws of 
evidence are not those which science is wont to honor 
in other things. 

Take the question of the personal identity of "spirits," 
for example. How can you answer it? Who is wise 
enough in the laws of spiritual being to tell us what is 
logical evidence of spiritual identity ? How do I know 
the resources of chicanery in other spheres of existence ? 
I have tolerable means of protection against the trick- 
ery of this world ; but, when it comes to the possible 
trickery of the "seven spheres," woe is me ! Nothing 
but downright miracle can settle this elementary ques- 
tion of identity. 

Yet it is amazing that multitudes of inquirers, quick- 
witted in other things, ignore this whole question of 
spiritual identity, in testing the Revelation of the 
Seance. Men not used to the melting mood break 
down in tears at the assurance that a departed mother, 
wife, child, is addressing them in the harangue of a 
medium ; but, when pressed for the proof of identity, 
they point to things vrhich they would laugh at if used 
as evidence of fact in the sale of a horse. They would 
not buy so much as a jack-knife on such evidence. 

So we say to the Spiritualists, "With all due respect 
to your intuitions, we would like to have Lord Bacon 
and the rest subpoenaed, and put into the witness-box. 
Your craft is not a science till it can stand a trial by 



24 nature's laws 

jury." The most scholarly of American defenders of 
Spiritualism is evidently staggered by this questioning 
of identity. 

Is it like God to set going the machinery of the su- 
pernatural world, for the sake of recovering a lost ear- 
ring ? Is it like God to send " spirits from the vasty 
deep," as in the case of one of the afflicted, to discourse 
upon pumpkin-pies ? 

Excuse us, gentlemen. Whatever else this may 
be, it is not religion. It hoots at our grand Biblical 
theology. It degrades our beautiful Christian ideal 
of heaven. It bedraggles our most sacred hopes of im- 
mortality. 

Spiritualism is not good morals. Good men and 
women are among its believers, no doubt. Afflicted 
ones seek in it communion with their sainted doad, 
with no thought of wrong. Restless inquirers search 
it for some wiser adjustment of nature to the supernat- 
ural than they have found elsewhere, with no profane 
curiosity. Christian believers, of pure lives and Bibli- 
cal faith, think they can accept a fragment of it here 
and there, in an electic fashion, without damage to their 
holier experience. 

But after all, and to these exceptional believers it 
should be said in sad faithfulness, the drifting of this 
modern theurgy is to loose morals. 

More than all ebe, they breathe a deadly antipathy 
to the Christian theory of the relations of the sexes. 
Where else do denunciations of the servitude of mar- 
riage find so congenial a home as in a spiritualistic li- 
brary? Where else such loose theories of divorce? 



m HUMAN LIFE. 25 

Where else so much nonsense about "affinities," "spirit- 
ual unions," " twin-spirits," and the like? 

Spiritualism, taken as a whole, is not good sense. 
Not that the admission of a certain modicum of fact in 
its alleged phenomena is unreasonable. 

It is not good sense to receive the rhapsodies and in- 
coherences of clairvoyants as a substitute or a supple- 
ment of the Christian Scriptures. It is not good sense 
to interrogate a modern witch of Endor, to get some- 
thing better than Paul's testimony to the immortality of 
the soul. It is not good sense to ask or answer the ir- 
reverent question whether Jesus Christ was anything 
more than a spiritualistic medium, and whether his mir- 
acles were like the table-tippings. 

Ignorant men may believe it till they know better. 
Silly women may be led captive by it till they are 
wiser. Sick nerves may dance to such music till their 
possessors get more protoxide of iron into their blood. 

But solid, sober, sensible men and women, whose 
fathers and mothers were of healthy stock, and who 
have inherited a right to large, well-balanced brains, 
"looking before and after," have no proper place in that 
assemblage. 

At this point, candor requires some concessions to 
Spiritualists on the part of their opponents. 

We must concede to them a certain basis of phenom- 
omenal facts. Precisely how much must be yielded 
may not yet be certain ; but fair criticism will grant 
something. Bad and foolish as the modern necrom- 
ancy is, it is not an unmitigated humbug.. Bees do not 



26 nature's laws 

swarm vipon nothing. Neither do believers plunge in 
crowds into an absolute vacuum. 

As little reason have we to cavil at the character of 
a certain portion of the testimony by which the tough- 
est facts of Spiritualism are supported. Some of that 
testimony, so far as it respects the sanity, the culture, 
the integrity, and the opportunities of the witnesses, 
would convict a murderer in any court in Christendom, 
outside of New-York City. 

It is too late also to set down the spiritualistic phe- 
nomena as only a re-vamping of old, or an invention of 
new, feats of jugglery. Their advocates are not to be 
censured, if they decline to argue with a man who 
comes to them, as from the detective police, with the 
logic of invisible wires, and of sleight-of-hand, and of 
leaden plummets concealed under crinolines. We 
might have been excusable for such innocence twenty 
five years ago ; but it will not do now. Signor Blitz, 
who probably knows as much as most men of the ca- 
pacities of jugglery, has been heard to say, that nothing 
on record in the history of his professsion could account 
for -that class of facts on which Spiritualism chiefly 
builds. Robert Houdin also, who claims to be the 
inventor of most of the tricks performed by the fra- 
ternity of modern jugglers, has declared his inabil- 
ity to equal or to account for the so-called spiritual 
occurences which he has witnessed. Similar testimony 
is borne by M. Hamilton, a Parisian expert in legerde- 
main, and by M. Ehys, a maker of the conjuring imple- 
ments used by Iloudin, 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 27 

Moreover, the theories of scientists thus far announced 
cannot fairly be held to cover all the facts of the case. 
Electricity, magnetism, odic force, nervous disease, un- 
conscious cerebration — do not any or all of them ex- 
haust the demands of candid science in explanation of 
the phenomena? 

After all these deductions, Spiritualism is apparently 
right in claiming that a residuum of fact remains, which 
goes straight to the point of proving the presence and 
activity of extra human intelligence. For one, I 
must concede this, at least, as a plausible hypothesis. 

What are the facts of our faith on this doctrine ? 
On the same testimony on which we hold other Scrip- 
tural facts, we hold these : that a malign being exists 
in the universe, who is distinct in his personality ; that 
he is at the head of a vast organization of subordinate 
kindred spirits ; that they have a limited, yet immense, 
spiritual power ; that they are especially malignant 
towards the person and doctrine of Jesus Christ ; that 
they have peculiar affinities with the most grovelling of 
human vices ; that to a certain extent the elements and 
laws of nature are subject to their use ; that they have 
access to the abodes and hearts of men. 

Have we not, then, in the " devil and his angels," 
of whom the Scriptures forewarn us, the " sufficient 
cause" which philosophy requires for all that there is in 
Spiritualism which science cannot otherwise explain? 
Are we, on the one hand, asked to imagine unknown 
and unknowable laws of mind and of matter? Whjit 
for? Are we on the other hand, required to muddle 



2S nature's laws 

ourselves with extra-biblical conjectures of the organi- 
zation of Hades? 

But it is claimed that Spiritualism is not devilish in 
its moral spirit. Not only do some good men and wo- 
men believe it, which is nothing to the purpose, but 
some inspiring truths, it is said are affirmed by it. 

"If evil angels come, why not good angels?" We 
answer they do. "Are they not all ministering spirits ?" 
But not after this table-tipping, lyin^:, swearing fashion. 
The evidence of the evil in the phenomena is supera- 
bundant : the evidence of good is no more than a device 
of temptation must have. Do you suppose that Satan 
would aim at anything less than this, if he should set 
about creating a wide-spread delusion for the capture of 
souls ? 

The devil and his subordinates may do a great many 
silly things, but they are not fools. He will never 
concoct, nor they execute, a system of temptation which 
is all falsehood or all vice or all nonsense. He will 
never organize a set of agencies which shall show them- 
selves up at the outset as pure malignants. That would 
tempt nobody, and would make him the laughing-stock 
of the universe. He knows better than to paint himself 
with horns and hoofs. 

Spiritualism, then we claim, on the hypothesis, that, 
so far as it claims religious authority, it is of Satanic 
origin, is cunningly adapted to its end. Senseless as it 
seems to sedate and Christian logic, it is very crafty as 
a compound of temptations. 

When the late President Day, of Yale College, first 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 35i^ 

had his attention called to Spiritualism, a quarter of a 
century ago, said he, "Either nothing is in it, or the 
devil is in it." No candid man, who knows its history 
during these twenty five years, will now affirm the first 
wing of the president's alternative. The second is as 
philosophical as it is Scriptural. 

Dr. Gulick, late of the Hawaiian Islands, says that 
American Spiritualism has no marvels which equal 
those of the Hawaiian Paganism, testified to by eye-wit- 
nesses of them not long ago living, and used by the Pa- 
gan priesthood as miracles in support of the national 
reliorion. 



OPINIONS OF REV. W. T. DWIGHT D. D. 

The following paragraphs are extracted from a ser- 
mon preached against Spiritualism by W. T. D wight 
D. D. of Portland, Me. The distinguished position of 
this divine, as an expounder of Orthodoxy, enables him 
to wield a powerful influence, not only over the minds 
of his own parishioners and among the people of his own 
denomination, but among many others whose religious 
predilections accord with orthodox views, for it is said 
that he stands as the representative of three quarters of 
all the Congregationalists, Baptists, Methodists and 
Episcopalians in tlie State. 

For convenience, several sentences iiot in immediate 
succession, but having a kindred sentiment are included 
in one of the paragraphs. They set forth in strong 
terms the belief that any leaning towards Spiritualism 



6k) nature's laws 

is condemned in the Bible, from which necessarily fol- 
lows its condemnation by the church. 

" God has purposely confined the knowledge of these 
things to Himself. This is the reason why they are se- 
cret, or why they have not been revealed : 'they belong 
to Him,' and not to men, not to creatures. * * * It 
is alike irreligious and fruitless on our part to seek to 
know them ;" " He keeps us in ignorance : He keeps 
absolutely secret with Himself what He intends to do, 
and most of what He is constantly doing." 

"It is not only the prerogative, but the choice of God, 
to hide Himself, or to withhold from His creatures, 
in many respects, the knowledge of His nature and His 
operations." 

" We are also in utter ignorance of futurity, and of 
what is now taking place in any other quarter of the 
universe, or in any other world. It has been also, as 
we see, with perfect certainty, God's intention to keep 
ourselves and our whole race [including, of course, Swe- 
edenborg] in this very state of ignorance — an ignorance 
inevitable and absolute, so long as we live on the earth. 

"God's spiritual essence. His self-existence, His eter- 
nity. His omnipotence and ominscience, and His infinite 
moral perfections ; — these are not only subjects, but 
they involve facts and realities, directly concerning Him- 
self, which we are as incapable of knowing as is the in- 
sect ; the archangel can as little comprehend them. 
They are all secrets of God." 

" Among these secret things are to be included the 
purposes of God." 

"Aside from the word of God, lie knows not that the 



IN HIBIAN LIFE. 31 

internal fires, which have been ever raging within the 
earth, may not burst forth ere to-morrow's sun, and 
consume our race and all the vestiges of humanity.'' 

"The future, and by this term is included the persons 
and the events belonging to all coming time, is also se- 
cret with God." 

"The state of the Invisible World is absolutely se- 
cret with God." — "The World of Spirits, and I include 
here Heaven and Hell, their respective localities — so 
far as they have locality, the actual condition of depart- 
ed persons individually, and all intercommunication with 
such persons and v^^ith the dead universally ; — all this, 
excepting the few and general revelations which are 
contained in the Scriptures, is entirely hidden from 
men." — " God has determined that we should possess 
just so much knowledge of the World of Spirits as can 
be acquired from His own announcements by inspired 
prophets and apostles and the- saviour ; and He has also 
determined that we should possess no other knowledge. 
The fact that He has revealed to us, in the Bible, what 
we thus actually know respecting the invisible world 
and its inhabitants, is in itself decisive evidence that 
He has purposed we should know nothing additional. 
What we have there revealed to us, He has disclosed to 
us for our profit : what He has not there revealed. He 
has withheld for the same reason." — "We know that 
God, as the Infinite Ruler who has given the Bible to 
men, and Christ, as the crowned Mediator who now 
rules directly in the World of Spirits, will permit no 
such knowledge to be communicated from any other 



32 natuke's laws 

"The light of the Gospel was introduced into Iberia, 
a province of Asia (now called Georgia) , in the fol- 
lowino; manner : a certain woman was carried into that 
country as a captive, during the reign of Constantine ; 
and by the grandeur of her miracles, and the remarka- 
ble sanctity of her life and manners, she made such an 
impression upon the king and queen, that they aban- 
doned their false gods, embraced the faith of the Gos- 
pel, and sent to Constantinople for proper persons to 
give them and their people a more satisfactory and com- 
plete knowledge of the Christian religion." 

'* I am willing to grant, that many events have been 
rashly deemed miraculous which were the result of the 
ordinary laws of nature ; and also, that pious frauds 
were sometimes used for the purpose of giving new de- 
grees of weight and dignity to the Christian cause. 
But I cannot, on the other hand, assent to the opinions 
of those who maintain that in this century, miracles had 
entirely ceased ; and that at this period, the Christian 
Church was not favored with any extraordinary or super- 
natural mark of a Divine power engaged in its cause." 
- "Descriptions of the unseen world and of the state of 
the departed [by spiritual mediums], have been stolen 
* * * from Emanuel Swedenborg, when describing his 
seven spheres or heavens, or from others ; or if original 
are just fit to fill tlie pages of a fourth-rate novel." 

"They [the secret things of God] are secret, be- 
cause He [God] has not revealed them to men; and 
because it is His purpose not to reveal them while the 
Christian dispensation is continued." 

'^Literal verity when affirming, that in all the pub- 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 33 

lished volumes of these pretended revelations, there is 
not one original and valuable thought." 

"If the Bible and the God of the Bible are not both 
a lie, Spiritualism, in all its claims to supernatural com- 
munications, is the most contemptible, the most mis- 
chievous, and one of the most v^^icked, among existing 
delusions." 

"Neither good angels, for they would utterly loathe 
the whole matter; nor bad angels, for God will not 
permit them thus directly to act in the affairs of men ; 
nor departed saints, for they are at rest and in trans- 
port with their Savior; nor lost spirits, for they are in 
prison ; are active here." 

"It professes to hold direct and constant intercourse 
with the invisible world, or with the region of departed 
spirits. Christians who have died in the Lord, and re- 
putable men of the world — together with murderers, 
drunkards, and harlots, who have not died in the Lord, 
can at almost any time be brought into immediate com- 
munication with any persons who desire it. Primitive 
martyrs and Christ's apostles may be thus summoned. 
Ancient prophets and patriarchs may be thus summoned^ 
etc. We are assured that at spiritual meetings, which 
are now held in certain regions in Europe, — whether 
such blasphemies are yet practised in our own country, 
we know not, — the Lord Jesus Christ is thus summoned 
and catechised ; and he communicates the desired infor- 
mation." 
Animal magnetism is described by Dr. D. as follows : 

"An influence or element in some respects resem- 
bling electricity and natural magnetism, and in others 



34 * nature's laws 

independent of both : an influence or element partly 
physical, and partly pertaining to the human body, in 
which in different persons it exists in very unequal de- 
grees." 

"There shall ^not be found among jou any one that 
maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, 
or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an 
enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer or a consultor with 
familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all 
that do these things are an abomination to the Lord." 

" They who did this [sought unto the spirits of the 
dead] were, by God's own appointment, as the Penta- 
teuch informs us, to be capitally punished as traitors to 
God, the theocratic sovereign of the nation. That pun- 
ishment indeed ceased, and properly, with the final 
overthrow of idolatry among the Jewish people." 

"It is not hyperbole, but literal verity, when he af- 
firms that its spirit [the spirit of Spiritualism] is anti- 
Christian and heathenish." 

OPINIONS OF ELDER JACOB KNAPP THE BAPTIST REVI- 
VALIST. 

On Friday evening, March 10th, Jacob Knapp, from 
Illinois — the celebrated Baptist revivalist, whose lan- 
guage is so potent to stir up the emotions of fear in the 
breasts of women and children, and whose ideas on all 
things seemed warped by his doctrine — held forth on 
the above subject in Tremont Temple, Boston, to a 
large audience, composed of many of the " faithful," and 
a considerable sprinkling of free-thinkers and Spiritual- 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 35 

ists, who were attracted to see what kind of treatment 
their belief was to receive at the hands of this wielder 
of the "Jerusahim blade," as the printed sheets of songs 
distributed among the audience denominated him. 

Elder Knapp was then introduced. He showed that 
the hand of time had dealt kindly with him. He ap- 
peared, a thick set, strongly knitted frame, a firm- 
drawn face, crowned and edged with silvery gray hair 
and beard, and a very magnetic power seemed to gleam 
in his eye as he walked the platform and gazed abroad 
over the con ore oration. 

The Elder assured his hearers that " Our Jesus " was 
not represented by that infidel ideal which was so gen- 
erally held up by the free-thinkers. The devil could 
not walk off with Jesus under his arm ; but as for the 
Unitarian Jesus, the devil could take him off his feet 
pretty quick. The speaker instanced, among other 
pa-ssages in the Bible, to prove the presence of the dev- 
il in heaven — that is, that he was not yet excluded — 
those referring to the false prophets — or the lying spir- 
it in the mouth of Ahab's prophets, which led that king 
to his destruction — and declared that the spirit who then 
offered his services to God to go down to earth and be 
that lying spirit, was the devil. The case was also 
mentioned occurring in the Book of Job, where it was 
recorded that "there was a day when the sons of God 
came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan 
came also among them to present himself before the 
Lord." 

The lecturer therefore declared that thou2:h the resi- 
dence of the devil is on our earth, yet he has some ac- 



36 nature's laws 

cess to heaven and the presence of the angels of God. 
To trace the conflict between the seed of the flesh and 
the spirit in the history of the race was very easy. 

And so they v^ent up and up in their labors to raise 
a pathway to the skies, till God came down in wrath 
and confused their language so that they could no long- 
er build, and they were scattered over the globe. Just 
so the Elder said the Unitarians want to get up to 
heaven without Jesus Christ, but they will meet with a 
similar fate. 

The same conflict was to be seen in the family of 
Abraham, wherein one child Ishmael, was born after 
the flesh, and was the servant of the devil, and the other, 
Isaac, was born of the spirit, and God recognized him 
as the seed of the v/oman. When they were but mere 
lads, the child of the flesh persecuted the child of the 
spirit. 

But why, asked the Elder, should the whole world 
rise against all the higii priests of the living God ? Be- 
cause they belong to the devil, and by his command 
they seek to slay the prophets. Why should John the 
Baptist be cut ofi from the world as he was, and only 
be allowed to preach for a brief time ? He bore malice 
toward no one — he was working that men should pre- 
pare a way for the coming Lord of Life ; but the seed of 
the serpent had a deadly enmity against the seed of the 
woman, and the followers of evil determined to put him 
out of the world. And when Jesus himself appeared, 
they hated him and hastened to nail him on the cross — 
to their minds it was not good to have such a fellow 
on the earth. And who, at the present dny, was so 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 37 

much hated by the servant of the devil as Jesus Christ? 

Here w^as a case in point, to the mind of the Elder ; 
the true prophet foretold the destruction of the king, 
vy^hile the false prophets — inspired by the devil of course 
— sought to lure the man on, and therefore gave pleas- 
ant words to his ear. The Elder declared that God 
never asks us to believe w^ithout evidence, and referred 
to the signs of supernatural povrer given by Moses be- 
fore Pharaoh. Here the magicians and diviners of Egypt 
— the Spiritualists of those days — vv^ere able with their 
"enchantments" to imitate the miracles of Moses, till 
they reached the changing of the dust to insects. This 
they were unable to do, and they said unto Pharaoh, 
"This is the finger of God." In all their previous ef- 
forts, filled with the evil spirit, they had endeavored to 
destroy the faith of the people in Moses, who was the 
servant of God, and the seed of the woman. 

We are told by Jesus, said the Elder, that in the last 
days " there shall arise f Jse Christs and false prophets, 
and shall shew great signs and wonders, in so much 
that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very 
elect;" that is, men who were calculated to deceive — 
and many women also — should come filled with false 
teachings, being the instruments of the devil in his ef- 
forts to overturn the truth of God ; and many souls 
should by them be led blind captives to his will, till 
he plunges them into the bottomless pit, there to howl 
and agonize for an eternity of woe. The Elder said 
that as, in our rebellion, the rebels tried to get all the 
States and all the men they could to join their ranks, 
BO the devil is constantly looking up recruits for his 



38 nature's laws 

great rebellious army, that is marshalled against the 
Lord God under the black banner of hell ! 

This devil, according to the Elder, has many ways of 
working out his pleasure among the people. No one 
scheme will answer for a long time. Bald Atheism had 
had its day, and was powerless for harm ; and Deism, 
Parkerism, Unitarianism, Universalism, and, worst of 
all Spiritualism — a universal conglomeration of all the 
others^ — have been instituted to do the devil's work in 
turning souls from the Lord Jesus. They say that there 
are four millions of Spiritualists in the United States 
this very day, and many of the Universalists and Unita- 
rians, and all the rest of God's enemies, who are fight- 
ing against the heavenly watch ward of "Union," and 
under the ensign of the devil, are drifting towards Spir- 
itualism. 

The Elder desired it understood, however, that, while 
he acknowledged that there is a great deal of jugglery, 
mesmerism, deception and perfect fraud in the manifes- 
tations of the spirit mediums, there are yet those things 
existing among Spiritualists that cannot be accounted 
for except by the exertion of a superhuman diabolical 
power. No mesmerism can make a table rise up 
without hands; there is some power there. It is the 
power of the devil. I want you to see the devil's ob- 
ject. He knows that there is a strong desire on the part 
of humanity to know something more about that future 
that God does not reveal. We all know that we are 
very anxious to learn what they are doing who have 
passed beyond our sight. Oh, how I felt about my 
son who fell on the field of battle ! All I have in this 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 39 

world — I thought— I would give if I could see him and 
have ^ve minutes conversation with him. So 1 felt 
till I hushed myself, and went back to the Word of 
God, and thought that there he had given us all we 
ought to know. And there are many men who are try- 
ing to get a knowledge of the future. The speaker re- 
ferred to many men who were " thinking men but not 
Christians," who wanted to know about the future, and 
instanced the case of Dr. Greely and a friend, who once 
entered into an agreement that they would hang each 
other — the subject to be suspended as long as possible 
ere death should supervene, and then to be cut dovni 
and restored. Dr. Greely was hanged first, and almost 
died ; but when he was brought to consciousness he had 
nothing to tell — he had not been able to penetrate the 
mysteries of God. The Elder recited the case of the 
[to him] dead Lazarus, who, after lying four days in 
the tomb, did not bring anything back with him when 
Christ, by a miracle, restored him to his sisters and 
friends. 

When God completed his revelation, he said, "It is 
finished ; the world has all the light it will ever have ; 
no new revelation will ever be given to the human fam- 
ily." This revelation was sufiicient. Man didn't 
vmderstand a millionth part of it ; and yet some dissatis- 
fied ones were seeking to know more, and were for that 
purpose calling in the aid of the devil, in direct con- 
tempt to the revealed will of God. The devil knows 
just what men want when they seek to penetrate God's 
mysteries. If he wants to lead a man to hell he tells 
him what he desires, the man believes, and goes his 



40 nature's laws 

way to the eternal fire. The Elder said the Spiritual- 
ists point triumphantly to the intelligence manifested 
and the information given at their circles — but where 
did it come from? The devil, of course. Depend up- 
on it, it is he that brings you the intelligence. Y"ou go 
into a room where all who are assembled are per- 
fect strangers to you, and you ask the medium whether 
you have children — if any are dead — how many years 
ago they died, and where, perhaps desire their names 
— and you are answered correctly in every particular. 
JSTow, where does this knowledge of your family affairs 
come from ? Why, the devil knows where and when and 
how they died; he keeps a record, and sometimes, when 
you ask a question and he is n't ready to answer, he asks 
for time — he has got to go and bring an answer from 
some other devil. I have had to wait for hours some- 
times for a reply. 

You will remark that the devil denies occasionally 
the inspiration of certain portions of the Bible ; he 
won't deny it all at once, and again he tries to sweep it 
away, and will say "It is out of date ; it is designed for 
a darker age ; but you are to expect many revelations 
from truthful sources to supply its place." If the per- 
son to be approached is Orthodox, he will tell him that 
it is n't an eternal hell into which the wicked are plunged, 
but that by-and-by they come out of it ; and the next 
thing — when he thinks the man will bear it — he tells 
him there is n't any hell at all ! Then he will destroy 
his belief in the Bible, and leave him, without compass 
or chart, beating about upon the waves of a shoreless 
eea, till he dashes upon the rocks and goes down into 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 41 

the deeps of everlasting misery ! So you see, [said the 
speaker,] that the devil is all the time deceiving men and 
women, and making them believe they are communica- 
ting with their friends whom they have lost, or with the 
spirits of persons who on earth bore good reputations 
for knowledge or morality. Again he arrests their at- 
tention by performing many remarkable things, many 
of which I have witnessed — far more than I ever saw in 
print. If you don't believe my statements you can 
write to Mr. Hook, of Stockton, Cal., or to Dr. Grat- 
tan ; they will tell the same story, and endorse cheer- 
fully all I say : Some three years ago I started for 
California, but before I had arrived, or before it was 
known that I was coming there, in the family of Mr. 
Hook occurred many strange things. His wife was a 
Baptist ; Hook was an unbelieving man, though well 
known in the community, being a member of the City 
Council ; and Yates, his neighbor, was the clerk of the 
Court ; but still both were irreligious men. And while 
I was on my way to California, there appeared a strange 
being in Mr. Hook's house. The Elder said they had 
no family but by adoption, and one of the children, a 
little girl, used to complain of a hideous figure she saw, 
who threw water on her and her companion when they 
retired to bed. The bed being moved did not mend the 
matter. * The chamber being searched revealed no pos- 
sible chance for the ingress or egress of a human being 
undiscovered, yet the individual still appeared, throwing 
water — and dirty water at that. Sometimes the slats 
were removed from their trundle-bed during the night, 
and they would be let down upon the floor. By-and- 



42 nature's laws ^^ 

by the apparition began to talk to them. The girl was 
the medium ; she could see him ; she was an honest 
girl — didn't know anything about Spiritualism, or 
about the Elders coming. She would describe correct- 
ly the spirits, or beings, she saw around people in the 
house, so that they would be recognized as representa- 
tives of those who had been known on earth by the par- 
ties. To the question of why the rest could not see 
these things as well as the girl, the speaker replied that 
all persons were not alike. Balaam could not see the 
angel in his path, but the unthinking ass perceived him ; 
so the devil may be seen by one person and not by 
another. Following the appearance of the speaking 
phase came a curiosity on the part of Messrs. Hook and 
Yates, with their families to know something regarding 
its powers of conversation, so they met and questioned 
of the presence — whom the Elder considered to be the 
devil — whether Elder Knapp was coming, and the ans- 
wer was, "Yes he has sailed, and is now on his way." 
They asked if there would be a revival of religion in 
the neighborhood on his arrival, and were told there 
would be, and that ^Ir. Hook and Mr. Yates would be 
converted. 

The Elder thought it did not require any great amount 
of prescience to perceive the source of the replies. "Of 
course the devil keeps his eye on me ; and he knew 
when I left New York, and he also knew that there 
would be a revival on my arrival in California, and that 
these two women — who were praying women — would 
plead strongly for the conversion of their ungodly- hus- 
bands ; he could make such assertions without the least 



m HUMAN LIFE. 43 

risk." Mr. Hook asked him if there was a hell, and 
was affirmatively answered. The questioner, who did 
not believe in hell, was quite "taken aback." These 
conversations and singular manifestations occurred for 
some three weeks previous to the Elder's coming to the 
house, and the families witnessing did not mention any- 
thing of the matter among the people outside. They 
were perfectly at a loss to know what to make of the 
sights and sounds, as they did not believe in Spirit- 
ualism. 

The Elder arriving, questioned the parties, and was 
shown the discoloration made by the water that had 
dripped from where it had been thrown by the mysteri- 
ous agent, and also some still remaining upon the win- 
dow-glass of the room where the child medium had 
lately slept. They asked the apparition his name, and 
he answered, "Elijah Greenfield." That was the name 
of Mrs. Hook's first husband, and he pretended to be 
the same, but contradicted himself in several of his 
statements ; and when reminded of it, he replied by 
asking them, with a laugh, if they supposed he was 
bound always to speak the truth ? The Elder was of 
opinion that the people in question ought to have known 
enough about the devil to know that he is the father of 
lies. 

Then " Elijah " began to throw things about ; then 
" he " took the girl's pillow and threw it into another 
room, dashed the spittoons about so rapidly that the 
family could not stop them ; and they did not know 
whence the power proceeded which hurled them around 
the room : " he " took two China vases and broke them, 



44 nature's laws 

and two statuettes that cost Mr. Hook twenty five dol- 
lars, shared the same fate, being dashed to pieces in a 
corner of the room. As fast as these things were bro- 
ken up, the family would take the pieces and put them 
out of the house, keeping the matter a secret for the three 
weeks above stated. Finally, one day, a young man — 
afterwards a minister preaching in California — was sit- 
ting at the table, who knew nothing of the matter in the 
house, when his coffee-cup was taken .up and thrown 
over his head without any visible agency : after which, 
the tureen dishes — one with meat, and the other with 
potatoes — were thrown after it. The startled family 
explained the matter as best they could. 

But by-and-by the mysterious being begun to get 
tired of throwing water, and threw fire ! This did not 
burn, according to the Elder's description, but only 
sparkled and produced a redness on the medium's arms 
and hands ; so he thought it might have been phospho- 
rus, or something of a kindred nature. [Laughter.] 
"You need not laugh over that," said the Elder ; "it is 
a solemn fact — one to be prayed over — when you re- 
flect what a masterful power of evil is at large in your 
midst." If the devil could slay the servants and cattle 
of Job, and afflict him with such sufferings could he not 
break a few dishes or destroy a little furniture ? asked 
the speaker. "If God lets out his chain he can do 
more." The Elder said at present th^ power of the 
devil was stayed, for beyond the breaking of the furni- 
ture the demon had no power — at least according to his 
experience. The demon, however, tried to accomplish 
evil for the little girl by advising her to leave her kind 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 45 

friends and go to another place which he recommended, 
and failing, tried to frighten her by telling her he would 
kill her. He said to her, "If I can throw water and 
fire, can I not take your life?" Her mother, in this 
emergency, told her to call on Jesus, and the devil im- 
mediatiely retreated. "The devil can't stand Jesus," 
said the -Plder, triumphantly ; "I can go and pray the 
devil out of any medium, or out of any circle. He 
will fly ; but Christ is stronger than the strong man 
armed. Christ has the power to take away the capabil- 
ity of the devil to do these things." 

One of the most powerful revivals of religion occur- 
ring in modern times, we are assured by the Elder, 
followed his preaching in that vicinity, and the singu- 
lar manifestations appeared to be all over — indeed, all 
parties concerned were congratulating themselves to 
that effect, when the devil again appeared ; notwith- 
standing nightly prayer meetings were held in the 
house, and other holy disinfectants were put in use, the 
devil showed his presence unto the praying band by 
hurlino^ a bisr book that was on the table across the 
room. The devil taking — as is mentioned above — the 
cognomen of her first husband — according to the Elder 
— told Mrs. Hook he would drive her out of the house 
— which was quite consistent with his character on 
earth, he having tried to kill her just before his own 
death, also having threatened to haunt her as long as 
she lived. The Elder said he supposed Greenfield had 
got the devil to go back to trouble his wife, and the 
task must have been eminently pleasant to him, espe- 
cially to persecute a wife who had done so much for a 
brutal husband. 



40 nature's laws 

The Elder said he always knew Spiritualism was of 
the devil, because he saw Universalists, Unitarians and 
Atheists, and all bad men flocking to its standard. 
During the last of his experiences in California, while 
sitting in a room with Mrs. Hook and the young girl 
above referred to, a spittoon was thrown at him from 
the next room through the open door, striking^ear him 
and breaking into many pieces. No one was in that 
room, nor could there possibly have been any one. with- 
out his being able to discover him. It certainly was 
the devil himself, invisible to his sight. Similar oc- 
currences of remarkable things had taken place at least 
once in about every hundred years of the world's his- 
tory, from the days of the apostles till now ; and these 
last exhibitions of demoniacal power in our day were 
only a proof of the devil's determination to take advan- 
tage of the universally rebellious spirit of the age 
against God. 

The speaker lamented the sad decay into which the 
Unitarian sect had fallen, as to their manners, at least. 
Why, thirty years ago they were quite respectable. 
They would never have descended to hire a miserable 
stool-pigeon like Hatch to stand at the doors of a 
church and peddle infidel tracts to deceive the people 
going in, who would take them, supposing them to be 
evangelical. "Hatch is a child of hell, and he knows 
it." In the old days they were very honorable to him, 
and never accused him of using bad English. They 
then said that Knapp believed just as all the Orthodox 
ministers did, and that they had just as soon be sent to 
hell in plain language, as to be "bowed and scraped" 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 47 

into it by softer speech and more graceful gestures. 
But now Unitarians were going out among the infidels 
and denying the Lord that bought them, and striving 
to undermine the whole Christian scheme of salvation, 
being among the chief apostles of his Satanic Majesty. 
Now just look, said the Elder, at the Spiritualists, 
and the tendency of their system. The Bible says : 
'^By their fruits ye shall know them. " We know that 
Wesley was knowing to these things, and could not 
account for them, except they were done by the devil. 
The Elder declared that there were just as many devils 
in the world to-day as there ever were. He said that 
the Spiritualists never had done a good thing. The 
Wesley girls, who nicknamed him, could never get the 
devil to do anything in the house that was useful, even 
to brushing a room out, although he played numerous 
antics there. Now mark, said Knapp, how many there 
are who have been driven absolutely mad — have be- 
come inmates of a lunatic asylum, under the influence 
of Spiritualism. Hundreds and thousands, from the 
shores of the Atlantic to the shores of the Oregon. 
See how they look, exclaimed the Elder, who have 
given their time and thought to these things — lank, 
long-haired, wild-looldng, careless and slovenly in their 
appearance, for the devil is uncleanly in his habits, and 
when he threw water at Hook's house it was dirty 
water. You will see them going on from worse to 
worse, the dupes of Satan. You can see by their very 
looks that they are but mere walking temples for devils. 
The Elder said all the old witches in the days of Saul 
were but emissaries of the devil, and were doing his 



48 natuke's laws 

work. He called attention to the many families which 
he asserted had been broken up by Spiritualism, which 
never failed to introduce " Free-Loveism " wherever it 
went. Those who had paid more attention to the sub- 
ject than he had, had informed him that ninety-nine 
one-hundredths of all the women believing in Spiritu- 
alism were common strumpets. "I wouldn't have one 
of them in my house any sooner than I would have the 
Old Fellow himself!" 

He then proceeded to retail the following pathetic 
story, saying that in Battle Creek, 'Michigan, some 
years since, a lecturer on Spiritualism came along, and 
he became acquainted with a widow lady, and he wanted 
to make her a medium, pretending she would be a good 
one ; so they concluded to go around the country to 
give lectures and hold their meetings with Satan ; and 
he expected to make it a good speculation, because 
people are such miserable goslings that they will pay 
out their one, five, or ten dollars, for the service of the 
devil without a word of complaint. She had three 
children, and since they had decided to travel, these 
were in the way — they must be got rid of. So they 
poisoned them, and they died. And thus these three 
children were cut down in their young days, and died 
under the influence of Spiritualism. These persons 
were lying in prison when I went to California, because 
the State of Michigan don't make use of the gallows. 

The Elder said the drift of the Spiritualist lecturers 
was to deride and ridicule or defy the Bible and its 
teachings. He had heard one of these speakers in Cal- 
ifornia say that if a man did not deny Jesus Christ, he 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 49 

had no true fellowship with Spiritualists. Their 
• speeches about Jesus were enough to make a Chris- 
tian's blood run cold, and it was awful to think of their 
unrestrained blasphemy, and of what was to come in 
consequence. 

Again, Elder Knapp in his discourse in Tremont 
Temple complained bitterly of the opposition which his 
revival movement was receiving from what he terms 
" the uncircumcised and ungodly infidels," Unitarians 
and Spiritualists in Boston. They were possessed, he 
said, by a legion of devils, 40,000 strong, and were 
led on by the infamous tract distributor to do battle 
against "the Lord's anointed." They found all man- 
ner of fault with him for his plainness of speech and 
fidelity to the truth ; but he had no doubt that if the 
Lord Jesus Christ was to come to Boston and preach 
three weeks, they would think and say that he (Knapp) 
was "quite a decent man compared with him." They 
had not even that outward respect for an ambassador of 
Jesus which many unconverted persons had. He re- 
membered well that before he was converted he had a 
great reverence for a minister of the gospel as such ; 
remembered sleeping with one once, when a young 
man, and he had such a feeling of awe and reverence 
for the holy man that " it seemed as if God was there 
in bed with him." But these men were so depraved as 
to have not only no such feeling, but the opposite one, 
of bitter hatred and supreme contempt for those who 
preached the gospel with fidelity. The Elder was par- 
ticularly severe upon the Spiritualists. Possessed with 
licentious devils, the Spiritualist women, he said, were 



50 nature's laws 

leaving their families to shift for themselves and getting 
up houses of ill-fame all round the city. He had said 
the other day that 99 per cent, of the women Spiritual- 
ists were no better than strumpets. He now said that 
they were, without exception " old, rotten, dirty, stink- 
ing hags," and were running after Hatch and every 
other vile and unprincipled fellow who would consort 
with them. 



FKOM THE BOSTON TRAVELLER. 

The Traveller says " The National Convention of Spir- 
itualists, at its session in Troy last week, besides choos- 
ing the Woodhull woman president, afflicted the world 
with some of the most absurd and wicked trash ever 
vented. One mfm defended profanity, boasting of his 
ability to swear in twenty languages, and claiming a 
"God-given-right to damn anything and everybody" he 
pleased. Another declared it was as natural for him 
to swear as for some people to pray, and it did just as 
much good. But even this was not the worst. Oth- 
ers indulged in declarations which would shame Athe- 
ists, and one woman declared unblushingly in favor of 
abolishing the institution of marriage and substituting 
therefor that of "natural affinities. " A suggestion that 
the association should appoint regular officers whose 
duty it should be to solemnize spiritual unions between 
" affinities " in this world was received with general fa- 
vor. No wonder the Woodhull found fit companions 
and satellites here. 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 51 



FROM THE BOSTON HERALD. 

A writer in the Boston Herald says "And I was once 
as blind as Denton and his comrades, but the loving 
Jesus had compassion on me, and called me to Him- 
self by a direct revelation on the Christmas eve, 1835. 
Since that memorable night I have known and under- 
stood that Jesus is the Lord and Savior. I dare to 
declare that I am his eye-witness, for I have both seen 
His lovely face and form and heard His sweet voice, 
and further that the generally prevailing and promul- 
gated doctrine that there can be no revelations, inspira- 
tions and other spiritual manifestations now-a-days is 
entirely false ; that whatever was in old times can be 
also to-day, but under the same conditions and by the 
same laws ; that the modern Spiritualism which claims, 
and also has indeed the above mentioned spiritual man- 
ifestations is of entirely different kind from the divine 
spirituality of the ancient saints, and of Jesus the King 
of the saints, as much as mud is different from clear 
water, it being condemned by the divine law and by 
the holy Scriptures as idolatry and rebellion, as a 
Satanic system. 

William Denton, in concert with all Spiritualists, as- 
serts that Jesus was a clairvoyant and healing medium, 
and there are now as many good and righteous medi- 
ums "as Jesus ever dared to be." This is all false. 
These mediums are not worthy to wear the shoes of 



52 nature's laws 

Jesus, for they are of Satanic order, consulters with fa- 
miliar spirits and idolaters, whereas Jesus was and is 
divine, filled and influenced by the Holy Spirit. These 
mediums find their equals in the woman called the 
Witch of Endor, in Simon Magus, called the sorcerer, 
and in the magicians, necromancers, enchanters, divin- 
ers and soothsayers, but not in the prophets, and Jesus 
whom they revile wickedly. 



STATEMENTS OF DE. W. A. HAMMOND. 

The real and fraudulent phenomena of what is called 
spiritualism are of such a character as to make a pro- 
found impression upon the credulous and the ignorant. 
* * * Such persons have probably from a very early 
age believed in the materiality of spirits, and having 
very little knowledge of the forces inherent in their own 
bodies, have no difiiculty in ascribing occurrences, which 
do not accord with their experience, to the agency of 
disembodied individuals whom they imagine to be cir- 
culating through the world. In this respect they re- 
semble those savages who regard the burning-lens, the 
mirror and other things which produce unfamiliar effects, 
as being animated by deities. Their minds are decided- 
ly fetish-worshipping in character, and are scarcely, in 
this respect, of a more elevated type than that of the 
Conffo neo;ro who endows the rocks and trees with 
higher mental attributes than he claims for himself I 

He has "witnessed many spiritualistic performances, 
and has never seen a single one which could not be ac- 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 53 

counted for by the operation of some one or more of the 
causes specified. No medium has ever yet been lifted 
into the air by spirits, no one has ever read unknown 
writing through a closed envelope, no one has ever 
lifted tables or chairs but by material agencies, no one 
has ever been tied or untied by spirits, no one has ever 
heard the knocks of a spirit, and no one has ever spoken 
through the power of a spirit other than his own." 

The "causes specified" in the above remarks are dis- 
eased nerves, indigestion, hysteria, etc., and the writer, 
in his book against Spiritualism, advises the use of pro- 
toxide of iron, and other medicinal preparations, to dis- 
pel the delusion. 



CHURCH OPPOSITION. 

The progress of Spiritualism has taken such a wide 
range, and numbered among its adherents so many re- 
cruits from the various religious organizations, that the 
official authorities of a number of sects, either on their 
own account, or by instigation of zealous members 
among the laity, have felt conscientiously bound to take 
cognizance of what they considered a dangerous en- 
croachment of heresy. Within a very few years such 
a case occurred in Laconia, N. H. Two ladies of the 
Congregational Church, yielding to what they declared 
to be the evidence of their senses, and a mental convic- 
tion arising from what they considered an irrepressible 
power acting upon their minds, came in conflict with 
the authoritative opinions of their rulers. The minister 



54 nature's laws 

and certain of their fellow-members visited tliem, and 
informed them that their supposed evidence of spiritual- 
ism was a delusion, at the same time threatening them 
with expulsion from the church, if they continued to 
advocate the new doctrine, or to entertain the belief in 
the truth of the phenomena. Their crime consisted in 
the fact that music was heard in their presence, as if 
produced by instruments, while no such instruments 
were visible. The ladies having, as they aver, had no 
agency in evoking the harmonious sounds, and there- 
fore being unwilling so summarily to yield their consci- 
entious convictions, were accordingly expelled. 

Other denominations have taken similar action in re- 
lation to members who felt themselves irresistibly at- 
tracted to the subject. 



FATHER HECKER'S CAUTION. 

Some years ago Father Hecker, editor of the Catho- 
lic World, and one of the distinguished divines of the 
Roman Catholic Church in America, lectured against 
Spiritualism, which he termed a delusion. In one of 
his lectures, delivered in Chicago, he said that the path 
Spiritualists were treading, was a dangerous one, and 
that his audience should avoid it as they would a snake 
in the grass. 

The Roman Church claims to have spiritual commu- 
nications in isolated instances, as a gift to the favored, 
but she interdicts the practice of mediumship. 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 55 

This large division of the Chrstian Church is not alone 
in her opposition. 

The Protestant Church as we have already shown, 
by reference to the remarkable bitterndss of spirit in- 
dulged by prominent representatives of several sects, 
when speaking of the subject, exceeds the opposition of 
the Romish priests. 

The Swedenborgians with few exceptions, condemn 
it, assuming that the founder of their sect is the only 
medium of special inspiration in modern times. 

In what is called the liberal portion of the Protestant 
Church in America, the discussion of the subject is treat- 
ed with gentlemanly courtesy, yet several instances have 
occurred in which not only doubt has been expressed, 
but its pretensions have been treated with sarcasm. 

Besides these, the expounders of Hebrew Theology, 
and the Liberalists, called by their enemies, by way of 
opprobium. Infidel have been to a great extent, arrayed 
against it. 

The positions of these several controversialists will be 
further considered in subsequent pages. 

The Rev. Justin D. Fulton D.D., the Rev. Mr. 
Morgan, and the celebrated showman, P. T. Barnum 
may all be placed in the category of out-spoken oppo- 
nents, not only of Spiritualism, but of spiritualists. 

The Baptist divine is scarcely less censorious than 
his confrere, Elder Knapp ; and has spoken of believers 
in the strange phenomena in terms of malediction, even 
more severe if possible than his celebrated denunciation 
of the character and life-work of the late Charles Dick- 



56 nature's laws 

ens, which so sorely afflicted the vast multitudes of ad- 
mirers of the latter's genius and of the humane tendency 
of his writings. He quotes passages from the Bible, 
the interpretation of which, he claims, proves that the 
spiritual phenomena are the works of the devil ; and 
asserts that there is no good thing in it. 

The spiritualists complain that Mr. Barnum spares 
no occasion to traduce them and their cause. 

Mr. Morgan, in a discourse delivered in the Music 
Hall, Boston, made grave charges of fraudulent prac- 
tises, against certain travelling healers, which however, 
have been as stoutly denied. 

These persons have denounced the practice of seeking 
spiritual knowledge in the way pursued by spiritualists, 
as dangerous, and a curse to society, which should be 
arrested. 



Scientific men have generally ign.ored the claims of 
Spiritualism. This has been a source of complaint 
among its defenders. It has been attacked and de- 
nounced both by certain scientists individually, and by 
some in their collective, organized capacity. The ac- 
tion of the authorities of Harvard College, for example, 
in expelling a student of the Divinity School for ex- 
hibiting mediumistic powers, is not forgotten. 

Eecent events furnish examples of a decided tendency 
in the other direction, as will be seen in the sequel. 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 57 



PA.RT II. 



CONSERVATISM. 

There is a class of public speakers and writers who 
have not expressed themselves with boldness upon eith- 
er side of the main question discussed in these pages. 
Unwilling to array themselves with some, at least of 
the opponents who have acquired prominence by their 
undisguised expressions of opposition nor to commit 
themselves against it, in the language of Mr. Knapp 
and persons of similar character ; yet having a disposition 
to inquire into the significance of the phenomena, they 
have spoken and written as nearly definite as the signs 
of the times seemed, according to their own conscientious 
scruples, to require of them. They occupy an interme- 
diate position, owing allegiance to neither. 

They admit the occurrence of spiritual phenomena, 
but apparently have not attached much importance to 
them. They cannot consider the manifestations diabol- 
ical in character, at least they have refrained from ex- 



58 nature's laws 

pressing themselves to that effect. What they intend 
precisely to be understood to mean, it is not proper 
here in a simple marshalling of the expressed opinions 
of the opposing parties, to state. The reader must 
draw the inference. The definite yea or nay wanting, 
we class them as conservatives, desirous of leaving the 
existing condition of things undisturbed. Among such 
we include the following. Some such persons, desiring 
at all times to subserve the interests of truth, accordmg 
to the inpetus given by new occurrences express them- 
selves in a more outspoken manner at one time than 
another ; but do not seem to be fully convinced in their 
own minds so as to take a definite position on either 
side. 



EEV. H. W. BEECHER. 

The following abstract of a discourse by Mr. Beech- 
er embraces the proper method of reasoning to arrive 
at or depart from Spiritualism. If his hearers pursue 
an independent course of inquiry, it leaves the teacher 
irresponsible for their conclusions. 

Sunday, Nov. 26th, Mr. Beecher's morning discourse 
was on "Science and Theology." His text, was taken 
from Tim. iii : 13-17. The end, he said, is more val- 
uable than the means ; the house is more valuable than 
are the tools by which the house is built. The Bible 
itsqlf is valueless ; but so far as it accomplishes good, 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 59 

it is of transcendent value. The adoration of the church 
and of the Bible are both idolatrous ; but if I am obliged 
to choose between a book — a record — and a living 
church made up of living men interpreting God's prov- 
idence, I should say, Give me the church by all means. 
In the past, the Bible has not been free from contro- 
versy and assault ; but the actual experience of the 
hearts of men has overthrown skeptics in our day. The 
assaults are stronger, better aimed, more vital, and 
more in alliance with scientific inquiry, armed with an 
acuteness never brought to bear before ; but the pre- 
ponderance of evidence still remains with the Bible. 
Nevertheless, the campaign is going to another Water- 
loo. The ground, to some, seems to be falling away 
from the word of God. The undermining of science 
seems to them likely to destroy its foundation. But the 
all important instrument for this destruction is lacking. 
Within the sphere of science comes the origin of man, 
the facts of mental and of moral philosophy, the mys- 
teries of moral and spiritual intuition : but it does not 
hold within its arms the one great element of moral 
conscientiousness. The atmosphere of doubt acts in 
many ways ; but that it is acting powerfully and pre- 
cipitously, few can doubt. Be as little conversant with 
the terms, the world or humanity, who does not know 
that over religion there hangs to-day an amount of doubt 
and uneasiness which may not be computed ? While 
the question, "Is there a God?" — the question which 
has been the great controversy of ages — is thundering 
round about us, they that believe in it, instead of forti- 
fying themselves against a common enemy, are virtual- 



60 

ly knocking down their own bulwarks by disputes 
about the meanest elements of theological geometry. 

A state of doubt is as fatal in its practical consequence 
as a state of unbelief. Both paralyze. If you attempt 
by the Bible to establish a perfect scheme of moral phi- 
losophy out of intellectual reason you will fail. It is 
not sufficient for that. The word of God draws the 
line between duty on the one side and wrong on the 
other — between lust and virtue, ambition and right. A 
jnan might as well go to Webster's Dictionary to find 
out how Mozart's Requiem sounds, as to endeavor to 
find advice as to the petty governments of a church in 
the elucidation of abounding mystery in the Bible. Al- 
though my whole life has been spent in the study of the 
Scriptures, I am not competent to investigate them ; 
but I am able to know what is best for the true man- 
hood, to know that love everywhere is better than ha- 
tred — and so are you. The Bible fashions character. 
The devotees who seeing the mischief of doubt, refuse 
to doubt anything, and, not content with denying them- 
selves, though they deny to everybody else, they say : 
" You have got to take the Bible literally ; you must 
read it just as it is." What nonsense I Such a pro- 
ceeding may be safe to men who were not in danger any 
way, but for those who don't want to be led by the nose, 
it is dangerous. You make skeptics of such men — set 
their pride against belief. The Bible is full of facts, 
and they must give way. It is said, " In six days God 
created the earth." The rocks told a different story ; 
they say it took thousands of years. Theologians grew 
wrathy and gave the lie to Nature. But to-day the 



IN HUMAN LEFE. 61 

rocks have proved their story, and we know that a day 
is a season. We take these days for gigantic periods, 
and geology and theology agree. The rocks have not 
changed, but the interpretation of Genesis has. I don't 
say to young men, "leave science alone;" but I say 
"Don't hurry." I say, "Don't read, but study." The 
spiritual force of the Bible gains in every generation. 
So I say to scientists, "Study up the knowledge of man, 
his adaptability to social life. Join hands with the Phi- 
losopher, the Mesmerist,, the Spiritualist and License 
Demonstration Hei'self to every Nation." No one 
knows anything about the Bible until it is to him the 
same as is a medicine book in actual sickness. The med- 
icating power of the Bible is therefore its life. 

A statement having obtained some degree of publici- 
ty to the effect that Mr. B. had expressed his belief in 
Spiritualism in one of his discourses, he took occasion 
to deny it in the following card : 

"In my discourse of Sunday night I did not discuss 
* Spiritualism ' as that term is now understood, but 
Scriptural teaching respecting the Divine spirit. Mod- 
ern ^Spiritualism' was barely alluded to, but without 
affirmation or denial. If the report shall be interpreted 
as an expression of my views on the modern doctrine of 
Spiritualism, I am unwilling to be responsible for its 
statements. I look with profound interest upon all 
wise efforts to educe scientific truth from that extraordi- 
nary class of phenomena which has become so common 
in our day, and to which at length, in England at least, 
the attention of men of the highest scientific attainments 



62 nature's laws 

has been seriously turned. But I have never yet been 
convinced that these remarkable modern phenomena 
originated from the interposition of spirits outside of the 
human body." 



OPINION OF ME. THEODORE TILTON. 

The following letter from the above named gentle- 
man indicates his opinion at the time of its publication. 
The well known liberality of his course, entitles him to 
the credit of sincerity and earnestness of purpose, upon 
whichever side of a controversy circumstances influenced 
his mind to range itself. 

"My Friend — I thank you for asking me to attend 
your convention. Many labors keep me at my office- 
desk. The phenomena of Spiritualism have interested 
me greatly. But I have had bad luck with mediums. 
Sooner or later, nearly all of them (in sitting with me,) 
have exhibited traces of imposters and cheats. Thus I 
have known a medium who, after the manifestation of 
genuine marvels such as would impress and satisfy the 
most skeptical inquirer, has condescended to the petty 
trickery of producing raps with his hand, and of mov- 
ing a table with his foot. There is so much that is 
genuine, cheering and magnificent in the better and 
higher phenomena of Spiritualism, that my blood grows 
hot with indignation at the insincerity of mediums who 
will use the most sacred of facts as the warp and woof 
of the meanest of deceits. You ask me to send a sen- 



m HUMAN LIFE. 63 

timent, I would like to send it in the form of a scourge 
to drive out the profaners of the temple. I hope you 
will pass a resolution whipping the rogues who steal 
the livery of Spiritualism to serve their devilish selves 
therewith. By as much as I love truth, by so much do 
I hate fraud. My experience with Spiritualism teaches 
me that, as it is ordinarily seen in the performance of 
mediums, it is about one-half truth and the other half 
humbug. I am yours frankly, — " 

It is said that his views have become more favorable 
since the publication of the above letter, but no public 
announcement of the fact has yet come before us. The 
candor and out-spoken sincerity of Mr. T's criticism is 
highly commendable. 



EEV. W. H. H. MUKEAY. 

The Eev. Mr. Murray, pastor of the Park-street 
Church, Boston, Mass., said in a sermon from which 
the following is an extract : 

"To me the spirit-world is tangible. It is not peo- 
pled with ghosts and spectres, shadows and outlines of 
being, but with persons and forms palpable to the appre- 
hension. Its multitudes are veritable, its society natu- 
ral, its language audible, its companionships real, its 
loves distinct, its activities energetic, its life intelligent, 
its glory discernible ; its union is not that of sameness, 
but of variety brought into moral harmony by the great 
law of love, like notes, which, in themselves distinct 



64 nature's laws 

and different, make, when combined, sweet music. 
Death will not level and annul those countless differen- 
ces of mind and heart which make us individual here. 
Heaven, in all the mode and manner of expression, will 
abound with personality. There will be choice and 
preference and degrees of affinity there. Each intellect 
will keep its natural bliss, each heart its elections. 
Groups there will be, and circles : faces known and un- 
known will pass us ; acquaintances will thrive on inter- 
course, and love deepen with knowledge ; and the great, 
underlying laws of mind and heart prevail and dominate 
as they do here, save in this — that in sin, and all the 
repellence and antagonism that it breeds, will be un- 
known, and holiness supply in perfect measure the op- 
portunity and bond of brotherhood." 



IN HUMAN LITE. 65 



PA.KT III, 



TESTIMONY IN FAVOE OF SPIEITUALISM. 



In the Christian Scriptures, John enjoins his brethren 
against blind credulity in language that has been often 
quoted, though it is questionable whether the advice 
has been heeded, even by those vrho refer to it as au- 
thoritive teaching. He says "Believe not every spirit, 
but try the spirits, vy^hether they be of God ; because 
many false prophets are gone out into the world." 
And in like manner, Paul in his letter to the Thessa- 
lonians advises them to "Prove all things; hold fast 
that which is good." 

If this advice were followed, the investigator bringing 
to the task the exercise of the great boon which has 
been vouchsafed to mankind, the blessed power of rea- 
son, there would be little of delusion or crime in the 
world. 

Paul was a hero among the Christians, and his words 
are treasured up by the followers of the Nazarene in im- 



66 nature's laws 

plicit faith, and his teachings obeyed as of undeniable 
authority. Entitled to the same weight comes the 
following language in his first letter to the Corinthians, 
in which he enumerates a variety of spiritual gifts. 

"The manifestation of the spirit is given to every 
man to profit withal. For to one is given by the spir- 
it the word of wisdom ; to another, the word of knowl- 
edge by the same spirit ; to another faith by the same 
spirit ; to another, the gifts of healing by the same spir- 
it ; to another, the working of miracles ; to another, 
prophecy ; to another, discerning of spirits ; to anoth- 
er, divers kinds of tongues ; to another, the interpreta- 
tion of tongues ;" and then at the close of the chapter 
he calls upon all Christians to "covet earnestly the best 
gifts." 

In the Hebrew Scriptures we find allusion to some 
of these things in the language of prophecy uttered by 
Joel. 

"And it shall come to pass afterwards that I will 
pour out my spirit upon all flesh ; and your sons and 
your daughters shall prophesy ; your old men shall dream 
dreams ; your young men shall see visions ; and also 
upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those 
days will I pour out my spirit." 

Having collated examples of opinions publicly ex- 
pressed in opposition to Spiritualism, embracing all 
grades of intensity from the severest down to compara- 
tive or absolute indifference, it is now proper to present 
the testimony on the favorable side. By pursuing this 
course impartially, the reader will be enabled to com- 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 67 

pare the weight of fact and argument as they are pre- 
sented with greater or less force to his mental compre- 
hension, and reach independent conclusions. The sum 
of testimony in either case, it is of course impossible to 
embrace within the limits of any book of reasonable 
magnitude. Enough of the unfriendly quality has been 
quoted to illustrate the animus of the various writers 
and speakers. But if it has been difficult to compress 
within a moderate compass what has been said in the 
way of animadversion, sarcastic criticism, stolid incred- 
ulity, condemnation, vilification, and priestly anathema, 
it is still less practicable to present at one view even an 
epitome of what has been given to the world in the 
way of simple narration, supported by calm reasoning, 
in a truly religious frame of mind on the other side, 
much less what has been written and spoken in terms 
of extravagant laudation. It is sufficient for our pres- 
ent purpose to give a modicum of each. 

The number of Spiritualists in the United States 
alone has increased during a period of but little over 
twenty-two years from a mere handful of startled 
and curious investigators, to a number variously esti- 
mated from six hundred and sixty thousand, to eleven 
millions. The lesser estimate, it is stated, is for want 
of the necessary data much below the reality, while the 
larger possibly exceeds it. It is however, unquestion- 
ably very large ; running into the millions. Among 
such a vast number, embracing men and women of cul- 
ture and scientific attainments, many of them of thought- 
ful minds having, to say the least, an average degree of 
mental strength, it is to be expected that the testimony 



68 nature's laws 

now to be offered in behalf of the truth of spiritual phe- 
nomena, selected from a voluminous quantity, should 
be definite and positive in character. 

In the earlier period of its progress in this country, 
several periodicals conducted by writers of ability ap- 
peared, and entered earnestly upon its advocacy, shar- 
ing the fate of most pioneers in almost all fields of 
adventure and active enterprise. After a time they 
were suspended, but to be immediately succeeded by 
others which nm^tured the seed thus sown by brave 
hands, and brought it onward to fructification. 

The permanent literature, from small beginnings com- 
prehended in a transient newspaper account of singular 
physical phenomena, extending to the graver pamphlet, 
and thence to the more permanent book devoted to what 
are known as the higher manifestations, and the discus- 
sion of the philosophy of the subject, has been alluded to 
in our Introduction. 

A portion of the testimony in this division of our 
plan of arrangement will consist of that which relates to 
physical phenomena ; but what is of more importance 
is involved in the question of the reliability of Commu- 
nications claiming to be received from persons inhabit- 
ing the spirit-world. This was for a longtime a delicate 
and embarrassing one. In the family and neighborly 
meeting of groups of private friends, the character of 
the communications received , after being tested by appro- 
priate means were alleged to be truthful, and highly 
satisfactory to the parties immediately concerned. But 
in these the public generally had no part. All were 
learners, and no one at first could take the responsibili- 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 69 

ty of deciding upon rules which would bring out the 
best method of conducting meetings for the desired pur- 
pose. Individual mediums had their capacities gradu- 
ally developed, until they were recognized by believers 
to be reliable, and thus the meaning of the phenomena, 
the communication of specific facts , and the philosophy of 
the subject came to be more extensively known. 



THE MEDnJMSHIP OF MES. J. H. CONANT. 

At length the proprietors of the Banner of Lights 
the oldest of the periodical publications, devoted to the 
facts and philosophy of Spiritualism, established on a 
permanent basis, inaugurated an exceedingly liberal. plan 
for the benefit of the public generally, namely, the open- 
ing of an elegant room conveniently furnished, for hold- 
ing Free Public Circles ; employing a lady of refinement, 
and of remarkable mediumistic powers, as their medium 
of communication between the spirit-world and such of 
the inhabitants of our world as chose to avail them- 
selves of the opportunity of attending the tri-weekly 
sessions ; the only conditions required, being the pres- 
ervation of quiet, order and neatness. 

The following standing announcement is placed at the 
head of the Message Department, in their regular issue. 

" Each Message in this Department of the Banner 
of Light we claim was spoken by the Spirit whose name 
it bears through the instrumentality of Mrs. J. H. Co- 
nant, while in an abnormal condition called the trance. 
These Messages indicate that spirits carry with them 



70 natuee's laws 

the characteristics of their earth-life to that beyond — 
whether for good or evil. But those who leave the 
earth-sphere in an undeveloped state, eventually pro- 
gress into a higher condition. 

We ask the reader to receive no doctrine put forth 
by spirits in these columns that does not comport with 
his or her reason. All express as much truth as they 
perceive — no more." 

Each meeting is opened by an invocation, of which 
the following is an example, indicating the temper of 
mind which governs the conductors. 



INYOCATIOJ^. 

Holy, holy art thou, oh Great Spirit, whether thou 
art Brahma or Jehovah ; whether thou dost reveal thyself 
to us through children, or through the more splendid 
intellect of maturer age ; whether we behold thy foot- 
prints upon the mountains, or read thy record in the 
flowers, in the fruits, in the grains and precious stones ; 
forever thou art holy, holy, holy. And we, thy chil- 
dren, the living and the dead, do this hour join hands 
and worship thee, bringing thee the fruits of our expe- 
rience, reverently laying them upon the altar of time, 
asking thy blessing to fall upon them. Give us, oh 
Great Spirit, the power to understand ourselves, the 
wisdom to read thy mighty, thy precious volume of Na- 
ture aright ; and when the hour of our triumph shall 
come, and we are upon the mountain-top of wisdom, of 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 71 

experience, and shall look down smilingupon all below, 
then cast thou thy mantle of love, perfect love upon us, 
and let it be decorated with humility, giving unto it a 
double lustre in the spiritual kingdom. 



THE SEANCE. 

Visitors are deeply impressed with the evident sincer- 
ity which pervades all parties concerned in the trans- 
mission of the messages, the intrinsic character and 
quality of which differ from each other in the widest de- 
gree ; presenting in their individual features almost as 
many characteristic phases as there are disembodied minds 
communicating. Many contain nothing of immediate 
importance to the listeners, but are of a personal nature, 
giving the best possible opportunity, however, of testing 
their truthfulness to any one who v^ill take the trouble 
to trace the correspondence between the statements giv- 
en, and the knowledge of facts in the possession of per- 
sons to whom they are addressed. They are simple 
and familiar in style or profoundly scientific, reflecting 
positive or negative character, and sometunes imparting 
new knowledge both present and prophetic. Their 
versatility excludes the presumption that they are the 
spontaneous utterances of the lady who is the channel 
of communication ; for this would require an extent of 
education, and a degi'ee of training in personation that 
no mortal in human liistory has ever yet attained. In 
proof of this, we quote the following remarks of a Chi- 
cago gentleman, which corroborate the uniform im- 



72 nature's laws 

pression made upon the minds of all observers. De- 
scribing spiritual matters in Boston, he writes : 

"I was much interested in attending the Banner of 
Light Free Circle. If Mrs. Conant is not under the 
influence of spirits, then she must be the most remark- 
able woman that ever lived. For a pale, feeble woman 
to answer so many profound and intricate questions and 
personate so many characters all of her own personal 
skill, must at once stamp her as the greatest actor and 
most versatile thinker of the age." 

We select two of the communications for the purpose 
of illustration ; the first is from the Rev. Dr. Gannett, 
a well known Unitarian Minister, whose earthly life 
was suddenly terminated by the terrible Railroad disas- 
ter which occurred at Revere, near Boston in the au- 
tumn of 1871, while on his way to fill a ministerial 
engagement, the time appointed being the following 
Sunday. 



COMMUNICATION FEOM EEV. EZRA GANNETT D. D. 

By the kindness of your President, I have been invi- 
ted to take part in your services this afternoon ; but I 
do so with the full consciousness that I am unworthy, 
because when in the body, living as I did under the bla- 
zing sunlight of modern Spiritualism, I rejected it, and 
crucified this Savior of modern times again and again. 
Therefore, I am unworthy to become a recipient of this 
great blessing ; but I believe I am here by the will of 



m HUMAN LIFE. 73 

God, by the grace of that Infinite Presence that cares 
for us all — that notes the falling sparrow, and numbers 
all the years of our existence. I was once told by one 
of my parishioners, who was a believer in modern Spir- 
itualism, that he should yet live to see the day when I 
would acknowledge myself in the wrong. He is on 
earth. I do acknowledge I was wrong, and, like a lit- 
tle child, I am willing to be led in the right way ; for 
now I fully understand that, except I become as a little 
child, I cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. 

My friends are mourning over my sudden departure ; 
but I have to say to them that my death was a merciful 
one. I suffered nothing ; I took my exit from the body 
of flesh probably instantaneouslv ; at least, I feave no 
recollection of anything but a sudden blow here, [on the 
forehead,] and then I found myself viewing the wreck 
of matter, and wondering into what state I had been 
ushered. 

I believe now, more than ever, in the goodness of an 
all- wise God — a Supreme Power that guides us through 
all the ways of life, and finally saves us, and admits us 
into that heaven of perfect happiness which every soul 
seeks to obtain. I feel, since entering upon this new 
life, deeply impressed with the necessity for great re- 
forms upon the earth. I feel that the earth is ripe for 
change, and that the angels are ready to record great 
events which are to transpire : and one of these great 
events is the passing away of mythical religions, and 
the establishment of the glorious spiritual religion over 
all the earth. Did not Jesus, or the Spirit of Truth 
through him, declare that such a time as that should 



74 

come, in the history of the earth? I so interpret the 
words, but when here I did not so understand them. I 
believed that he referred to the millennium — to the time 
when the soul should be redeemed from error, and should 
live in a perfectly happy state upon earth. 

My friends say I have been removed from the sphere 
of my labors. It is not so. I have only been transla- 
ted higher, that I may do better — that I may be a more 
faithful laborer in the vineyard of my Father. I have 
seen, hitherto, as through a glass, darkly. Now, 
standing as I do in the world of causes, and communi- 
cating with the world of matter, I can look forward 
hopefully — I can work with a will ; and I praise my 
God that he has dealt so mercifully with me. Rev» 
Ezra S. Gannett. Sept. 7. 

The second communication is from Dr. Wesselhoeft, 
a physician formerly engaged in extensive practice in 
Boston, and is said by those who knew him intimately, 
to be characteristic of him during his earth-life. 



COMMUNICATION FROM DR. WM. WESSELH(ErT. 

I had ample evidence, before making the change of 
worlds, that a great many of these people who believe 
in modern Spiritualism were disposed to make this mod- 
ern Spiritualism a very ridiculous thing ; and I have 
had greater evidence, since death, that this is a fact — 
that the majority of those who believe in modern Spirit- 
ualism do it more harm than good, for they call upon 
the inhabitants of the other world to come back and 



IN HUIVIAN LIFE. 75 

answer the most nonsensical questions that could possi- 
bly be propounded ; and I am here to answer one, to- 
day, which is to me a very foolish one. A lady who 
claims to have been a patient of mine, and who claims, 
that her daughter, now in the spirit-world, was also one 
of my patients some seventeen years ago, wishes me to 
come back, and, for her satisfaction and the satisfaction 
of her friends, to make a statement concerning the dis- 
ease with which her daughter died, diagnosing every 
particular point, so that there may be no mistake, so 
that she may know, herself, that I am speaking — that 
her old physician gives the message to which his name 
is attached, or expected to be. Now, to begin with, I 
don't know the lady, and never did. My memory is 
good — just as good in this life as it was in the earth- 
life ; and if such a lady was ever a patient of mine, it 
was under a different name. I don'X know her by that 
name and never did. Probably she expects I shall be 
attracted to her because she has called me, and I shall 
know what her name was, and shall give it to her, 
thereby doubling the test. I have something better to 
do now. Although her request may be a very laudable 
one to her, to me it is a very foolish one. I would 
recommend to her that she should employ some good 
wise spirit to give her a few lessons as to what her duty 
is to the spirit-world as well as to herself. I was a 
plain-spoken man in the earthly life ; I am just the 
same now. If she do n't like it, I've no apology to 
make. She ought to make one to me. The name the 
lady gives me is Mrs. Agnes Chesterfield. I do n't 
know her ; and if I did, I would probably refuse to 



76 nature's laws 

give her what she asks, for the reason that I would not 
be very Hkelj to remember all the points of the case she 
demands me to work up, for I had more than one pa- 
tient at the time. I could hardly be expected to write 
out a critical case from my memory ; and the lady, if I 
understand her, demands something very clear and ac- 
curate, or nothing at all. Now then, my lady, go to 
school ; go to some good spirits, to teach you. No 
matter if they are as cross as I am ; they'll do you good. 
Dr. William Wesselhoeft. Oct. 23. 

It will be observed that the name of the communicator 
is placed at the end of each message, notwithstand- 
ing its having been already prefixed as the usual head- 
ing ; a seemingly unnecessary repetition. Our purpose, 
however, has been to quote the message verbatim, and 
in the precise order in which it was spoken through the 
medium. The date is also appended for convenient 
reference, in the case of new inquirers. 

From two to six of the messages, as the case may be, 
are delivered at each sitting. In addition to this, and 
immediately after the invocation, questions which have 
been propounded by persons at a distance are read by 
the Chairman, and immediately answered by the pre- 
siding spirit. An opportunity is then given to the au- 
dience to ask such questions as they desire, which are 
also answered instanter. This privilege all persons 
are earnestly invited to avail themselves of,, without 
hesitation. 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 77 



EELIABILITY OF SPIRIT COMMUNICATIONS. 

In reference to this question which is mooted by all 
novices, it is only necessary to remark, that it simply re- 
quires the application of common sense, and the ordina- 
ry rules of evidence. 

Communications are made either orally or in writing. 
When by the former method, the tone and manner of 
the medium affords an indication of its genuineness. 

The faculty of imitation is in many cases a natural 
endowment ; to acquire it artistically necessitates great 
application and perseverance. Even then, there must 
be an original from which to copy, in order to meet with 
success, in an attempt to counterfeit. 

Trance mediums are either conscious or unconscious, 
while in that condition— in the beo^umins^ of the mani- 
festations it appeared to be generally the latter ; and they 
are thrown into it with very varying degrees of facility. 
The displacement of the person's individuality for the 
time being, is attended with some degree of spasmodic 
muscular action, occasionally violent, with a sigh or an 
ejaculation. In the incipient stage of development, there 
is much more of this than subsequently, and more or 
less retention of consciousness. Indeed in proportion 
to the difficulty of suspending that consciousness, will be 
the incompleteness of the trance condition. If it be re- 
tained in the earlier experience of the medium, the 
thoughts of the conmmnicating spirit can not be trans- 



78 nature's laws 

mitted with distinctness. Such is the testimony of me- 
diums, as regards the sensations which they experience ; 
and the result is a matter of observation, coming within 
the cognizance of all intelligent investigators. 

The mixed character of mediumship, in certain cases 
owing to incomplete development, accounts for^he un- 
satisfactory and sometimes contradictory nature of com- 
munications received. The individuality of the medium 
is mingled with the communication. If therefore, there 
is any want of veracity on his or her part, the matter of 
the communication will be to some extent supplement- 
ed, or interpolated by something foreign to its purpose. 
This is liable to occur in written as well as in spoken 
messages. 

Complete control having been established, the suc- 
ceeding entrancement is effected without disturbance of 
muscular action, and moreover without suspension of 
consciousness. Indeed it is believed that the greater 
portion of the best mediums now remain conscious. 

These remarks are made on the supposition that the 
investigator and the person through- whom information 
is sought, are enth-e strangers to each other, neither 
knowing any thing of the other's honesty of purpose. 
Hence the same rules of e\ddence are to be adopted 
which govern an examination into the truthfulness of 
testimony on any other subject. 

Fitness for mediumship, or adaptability is a peculiar 
organic condition involving qualities which are yet to us 
occult; at least the peculiarities of temperament which 
were supposed to constitute susceptibility based upon 
what was known of mesmerism, do not apply. 



m HITMAN LIFE. 79 

In respect to veracity, there are pure and noble souls 
whose testimony would at all times be regarded unim- 
peachable. There are others less scrupulous. Herein 
mediums do not differ from other persons. In the true 
value of moral traits of character, they are neither bet- 
ter nor worse than the Christians of om' day. So far 
as the benignant influence of the teachings of the doc- 
trines concerninsr a future life are concerned we should 
expect them to show better fruit, but this affects them 
as individuals and not as mediums. In ordinary mat- 
ters of business this does not concern the inquirer. If 
he fi.nds it necessary to transmit a message by telegraph 
to a distant point, he does not 'stop to inquire what the 
sockl position of the operator is, to what church he be- 
longs, or with what political party he affiliates. It is 
enough for liim to know that the person intrusted with 
that duty is capable, prompt and efficient, that the lino 
of communication is perfect and the apparatus in work- 
ing order. The question of fidelity comes in, and that 
is inferentially settled by the interested parties employ- 
ing liis services. 

The intrinsic character of the message or communi- 
cation must therefore speak for itself. If it contains a 
specific fact which is known only to the person addressed, 
it relieves the medium from suspicion of fraud. Yet to 
a third party it is still liable to the objection tliat it is 
only a reflection of the mind of the seeker, who in this 
case is supposed to be present. But if the thought was 
not present in his mind. at the time, and the statement 
comes to him as a startling reminder, it cannot be ex- 
plained in that way. And again if he is hun(h'eds or 



80 nature's laws 

thousands of miles away, what shall be said of the re- 
flex theory ? It has happened again and again, that the 
recipient of the verbal communication has solemnly 
averred that the circumstances related to him were not 
occupying his mind at the time, nor had they been 
thought of, for perhaps a long time previous. If a space 
of miles in extent separates the parties in the body, that 
is the mediiun and the person at a distant point, who 
knows the fact stated, the knowledge must be imparted 
to those persons present in the body with the medium, 
by means inexplicable by the electrical, the reflex or 
any other theory suggested by the objector. 

These ingenious though often far-fetched explanations, 
if they could satisfy the demands of a reasoning mind, 
in reference to the classes of cases just mentioned, are 
still at fault in another. We refer to cases where the 
statements made embrace facts entirely new and pre- 
viously unknown to any one in the body, present or ab- 
sent. 

The objection, or explanation which presumes that 
the medium is necessarily a pretender, is not only un- 
generous, but unjust. True ladies and true gentlemen 
who accept this calling in good faith, often against their 
will and in spite of their personal opposition to it, are not 
chargeable with the false pretensions of counterfeitors, 
nor the uncertain character of mixed communications 
coming through partially developed mediums who re- 
sort to the use of their imperfect gift as a trade for 
mercenary ends. They have patiently borne the doubts 
and sneers of the ignorant and presumptuous for the 
purpose of affording the fullest opportunity to inquiring 



IN HmiAN LIFE. 81 

minds to test for themselves tlie truthfulness of their 
messages. 

When a dear departed friend, or a near relative makes 
an effort to be identified, and to give a friendly or affec- 
tionate greeting, it is not complimentary nor is it kind, 
without an attempt to ascertain its genuineness by reason- 
able tests, to charge the medium with imposition, and a 
false personation. But when after its truthfulness is 
acknowledged, because it is no longer possible to ignore 
it, and the communication purports to come from a lov- 
ing mother, what word shall be employed to characterize 
the assertion that it is the work of the devil? How 
must that mother feel to be called a devil ? How would 
she in earth-life feel, if after sending an affectionate 
letter by the mail, or a message of kind greeting, by 
telegraph, with precious pearls of advice, the recipient 
should say it came from the devil? 

When information is sent by letter from one person 
to another, there are means of identification as to its au- 
thorship, which are fully satisfactory to the person ad- 
dressed. Modes of expression are characteristic as well 
as the chirography. It has often occurred, when mes- 
sages have been received from the spirit- world, the per- 
son addressed has at once exclaimed "That's just like 
him." When a circumstance has been related to anoth- 
er who was not present when the message was received, 
on hearing the phrases repeated, even before the name 
was announced, the exclamation came spontaneously, 
"Why, that's from so-and-so, its exactly his manner 
and language." 

A verbal messao-e from one to another in our mun- 



82 - nature's laws 

dane sphere, may be accurately conveyed, but this de- 
pends upon the accuracy of the messenger. We know 
that scarcely any two persons narrate the same event 
alike. The difference in memory and the relative facil- 
ity in the use of language will modify the statement. 
Its spirit will be occasionally communicated without 
abatement of intensity, or variation in accuracy of detail. 
But this is seldom the case. Hence a communication 
from a human being disembodied to one still in the form 
must necessarily, except when given through one of the 
best mediums, lose something of its intensity at least. 
The reliability must then be determined by the employ- 
ment of ordinary rules of evidence, and submitted to 
common sense and reason. 



PSYCHIC FORCE. 

The array of testimony against Spiritualism in Part 
I. from prominent divines, aided by an occasional oppo- 
nent who has attacked it from what he considered a 
scientific stand point, and scattering newspaper com- 
ments, has consisted mainly of negation ; such and such 
things did not occur as represented by persons vntnessing 
them. What could not be denied, others have attempt- 
ed to explain. It was still negation, as far as it related 
to any definite source from which the alleged phenome- 
na originated, excepting the devil recognized by Mr. 
Ejiapp and others of like belief. 

^We do not propose to enumerate the prominent be- 
lievers as is sometimes done with reference to those who 



m HUMAN LIFE. 83 

deny, as it is not a mere array of names on the two 
sides respectively, that would settle the question. Oth- 
erwise we might classify a list of Scientists, Professors 
in Colleges, Judges of Courts, Members of Congress, 
distinguished Literateurs, Philanthropists, Ministers, 
officers at the head of the nation, and men in high po- 
sition in Councils of State, as believers. But no truth 
can be disposed of by vote. 

We prefer to present the statements of facts wliich 
have occurred," and to mention the parties who witnessed 
them, and are personally responsible for the statements. 
Truth or falsehood in such cases is easily ascer- 
tained. 

The arrangement of this kind of evidence will include 
the development of mediumship in its various phases, 
such as the more elementary or simple manifestations, 
better known as physical phenomena, and also the high- 
er phases, exhibiting mental and moral characteristics. 
As the former give proof of physical power beyond that 
which has been taught us under the laws of mechanics, 
the latter announce facts which have been proved true, 
of a character which could originate only in a mental 
force, by whatever name it may be called. 

The nearest approach to fairness in investigation is 
the course of experiment and inquiry which has been 
instituted by Professor Crookes and others in England. 
They are not, like their predecessors, so stubborn as to 
deny flatly that what are called spiritual manifestations 
ever occurred, until stupid denial would render them 
ridiculous ; nor continually to evade by suggesting that 
they proceed from something else than their real cause. 



84 nature's laws 

We need not fear the result when men of mind are 
disposed to acknowledge a fact, and honestly to ascer- 
tain if they can, its relation to any branch of science. 
These gentlemen have proposed for the new agency, the 
name of Psychic Force. The following remarks quo- 
ted, scarcely gives them the credit they deserve, in set- 
ting out upon an independent investigation. 

'^ The attempt of a few distinguished scientists to drive 
a stake in the realms of soul-life, for experimenters to 
tie to when called upon to explain mysterious phenomena, 
seems to be stoutly resisted by the old fogy conserva- 
tives ; while the untenable ground on which they at- 
tempt to stand while they drive the stake, makes it 
probable that they will have to give it up. It is not 
probable that Prof. Crookes and his compeers will be 
able to gain admission into the list of forces for their 
new article of soul-force while they attempt to explain 
the laws by which it is controlled as wholly mundane. 
They can quite easily prove the existence of some subtile 
force if the phenomena are admitted, but they cannot 
prove that it is controlled by any earthly human will ; 
and hence the ridicule attached to those who attempt to 
prove its existence by laws that do not control it. It is 
not now probable that the point will be gained in sci- 
ence of establishing even the existence of a psychic force, 
because the advocates do not go far enough, and plant 
themselves on spiritual life as the power that controls it 
and the source from which it emanates. It is a shame- 
ful attempt to bring the spiritual forces into subjection 
to the human will, and bind them by mundane agencies, 
to the old wheel-ruts of physical science. The simple 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 85 

truth is, spirits are among us, doing many things as 
they will, and not as we will them, and a large part of 
the phenomena are utterly ignored by both church and 
science ; but a few have been witnessed, and cannot be 
explained by the church without attributing them to a 
devil, nor by scientists by earthly agencies ; and hence 
an attempt to bring in a new force, and, to avoid a con- 
flict with the church, to report it subject to only earthly 
control, and to disconnect it with anything of a spiritu- 
al origin. But the church is evidently alarmed by even 
the name, which trenches on forbidden ground, where 
science has not yet been allowed to set her unholy 
foot. 

"The position at first assumed by the investigators — 
and that which the great world of skeptics so greedily 
seized upon — is capitally sketched by a correspondent, 
Carl Harter. Wouter Van Twiller — surnamed "the 
doubter" — he says, gained a great reputation for know- 
ledge and incapability of being imposed uj>on, by a 
solemn, mysterious shake of the head and a muttered 
*I have my doubts about the matter,' whenever a new 
question was propounded. So with scientists, who have 
smoked and doubted for all these years, and have gained 
a great repute among men by their reticence. He says 
the various hypotheses of ^sleight-of-hand,' Hmmbug,' 
'psychology^— self or otherwise — have vanished before 
the tests of truth ; now the spirit-phenomena are de- 
clared to be the result of soul power or mind power : 
*but whether that soul or mind is in a mortal body or 
not will perhaps be determined within the present cen- 
tury.' 



86 natuee's laws 

" Wonderful psychic power ! a table is suspended in 
mid-air ; an accordion is played ; a pencil writes in- 
telligent sentences ; and all without contact with mortal 
hands, and under circumstances which make machinery 
impossible ; and the question arises, What is the cause? 
*Why,' says the common mind, Hhe making of music, 
the writing of an intelligent sentence, are things that 
can only be done by a human being ; there is no other 
power that can do these things, and, since the hand of 
flesh did not prevail in this case, it must have been done 
by a human being without a hand of flesh — a spirit.' 
* Not so,' says science ; ^ be silent when wisdom speaks ; 
this medium thought write, and the pencil wrote.' " 



OUR EXPERIENCE. 

It is not uncommon now to see articles and extended 
narratives entitled "How I became a Spiritualist." 
The Catholic, the Methodist, the Presbyterian, he 
whom his christian neighbors reproachfully stigmatizes 
as Infidel, and persons of other shades of sectarian bias 
have all answered it. The title page will perhaps have 
excited curiosity to know what particular event or ar- 
gument it was which shaped our opinion. 

We never had any particular belief in regard to a 
future life until the facts of spiritualism gave us an in- 
sight into its philosophy. ' 

Our earliest evangelical religious instruction was re- 
ceived from the pulpit of the Congregational Church. 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 87 

Yet we could not feel that interest in the teachings nor 
perceive the truth in them which others expressed. 
We then attended the ministration of the Universalist 
church. In that denomination we saw much that we 
liked, but no proof of immortality, nor anjrthing that 
made the subject clear to our mind. After this w^e list- 
ened to the preaching and read the writings of Theodore 
Parker. What we then learned seemed to be a step in 
advance. While listening to these discourses, the re- 
markable occurrences at Rochester took place, and soon 
after similar events in Boston. At first we were 
strongly opposed to acknowledge them as true, believ- 
ing, after having attended several seances, that the 
whole subject was a disgrace, and that its pretensions 
would soon explode. Indeed our opposition was so 
intense that no manifestations would take place in our 
presence, and we have been requested to leave the room 
occupied by the mediums for the purpose. Still we 
could not remain away. We attended a lecture on the 
subject, but could not understand what the speak:er was 
trying to, prove. After stopping a few minutes, away 
we went. We still felt a desire to attend subsequent 
meetings, and sa followed up the investigation for some 
time, yet feeling ashamed to be seen in the room or 
going there. It seemed below the dignity of man. At 
length our spirit mother, who when in earth-life was a 
member of the Comj-reGrational Church, came with an 
unmistakable test of her identity. Her first words were 
"My son, God moves in a mysterious way his works to 
perform." She gave her religious views, the manner 
of her death, and many particulars calculated to con- 



88 nature's LAWS 

vince one that spiritualism had in it much more than 
we had been inclined to believe, and that it was worthy 
of further investio;ation. Then the thouo^ht was suii- 
gested that it was simply mind reading, but soon some- 
thing beyond that was given — statements of the truth of 
which we were not then informed, and were compelled 
to inquire into. One circumstance settled the question 
in our mind forever, and satisfied us that the invisibles 
can and do tell us that which we have never previously 
known. It was a personal test. 

After being thus convinced, we related our experi- 
ence thus far to our friends, who almost without excep- 
tion, were incredulous, and rejected the claims of the 
revelations to credence. They thought we were getting 
fanatical, perhaps a little insane, on that subject. An 
acquaintance was solicited to converse with us about it, 
and persuade us to drop it, for the reason that it would 
be injurious or perhaps ruinous to our mind ; and if not 
that, our business would suffer from being known as a 
believer. He was not acquainted with its facts, and 
asked but a few questions in relation to it, soon real- 
izing that he was not competent to reason upon it, and 
must first inform himself before he could point out faults 
in others. 

The business we had engaged in was not in harmony 
with the views of usefulness which we adopted on be- 
coming a believer in Spiritualism, and our interest in 
it having increased, we zealously pursued our inquiries, 
travelling extensively in order to visit mediums in vari- 
ous sections of the "country , spending time and money 
in order to ascertain the truth concerning the alleged 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 89 

manifestations. During ourjourneyings we heard most 
of the public speakers, and had sittings with most of the 
noted mediums, and have learned from reliable sources 
the character of the manifestations witnessed in the 
presence of others. For ten years we resisted the influ- 
ence at work on our mind, feeling unwilling to work 
in harmony with the authors of the scenes transpiring 
around us. At length it proved irresistible ; a gradual 
development had been going on, until it seemed beyond 
doubt that a new calling had been opened for us. We 
yielded to the impulse, and for several years past, have 
exercised the gift of healing. Our case in some respects 
was similar to that of Paul, particularly in regard to 
the strenousness of our opposition and determination to 
resist the power which was evidently put in operation 
to subdue our will by the force of truth. 

Since we became convinced of that truth, many of 
our relatives and acquaintances including some of those 
who were so solicitous for our welfare, have themselves 
given in their adhesion to the same cause, from the evi- 
dence presented to their minds, and are enjoying the 
benefits derived from a study of its philosophy. So that 
now we are not looked upon as so much out of the way, 
in our conversion to it. 

When our mother came in spirit, many questions 
which suggested themselves, were asked, among which 
was this. "Is it right for me to attend Mr. Parker's 
meetings ? " The answer was " Follow the dictates of 
your own conscience. It matters not where you attend 
church, if you but live right." She went on to say that 
in the land of the immortal spirit there are no forms, 



90 nature's laws 

creeds, or religious ceremonies ; but persons are attract- 
ed to their own — those of like conditions of develop- 
ment, intellectually, morallyand spiritually, on entering 
the spirit-world. It seemed clear to us that the grada- 
tion was something like that which is made in school. 
The scholar is not asked what he believes when under- 
going an examination, but what he knows, and accord- 
ing to his knowledge he is directed to take his position. 
When the hindrances of a material body are thrown .off, 
the disenthralled spiritual being does not enter a sphere 
in which he cannot be harmonized. If attracted higher 
he must by progression be fitted to enter the new and 
more elevated plane. It can be compared to our pres- 
ent material life, whenever the question of comparative 
merit is considered. Each will be placed in his own 
order. This seemed to be the view of the spirit, al- 
though not expressed exactly in the same words. Her 
views then given have been corroborated by the results 
of our subsequent investigation, and experience in spirit 
intercourse. 

One of the unsatisfactory dogmas in our early reli- 
gious instruction was that of a great Judgment Day, 
after the manner of our Assize proceedings, the differ- 
ence consisting in the extent of the trial, the one being 
universal, the vast majority of the multitudes assembled 
being culprits, while the other is small, puny, and by 
comparison, insignificant. Now the uniform assurance 
that there is no such day especially set aside to judge 
the spirits, but on the contrary that all days are judg- 
ment days, gives us clearer light. So also of the 
doctrine of resurrection of the natural body, and other 



m HU3IAN LIFE. 91 

peculiar Orthodox teachings included in the same cat- 
egory. 

Now it seems reasonable to our mind that when all 
spirits who return to us with tidings of their new abode 
agree in a statement of fact touching any one point, 
upon which they must necessarily have better informa- 
tion than we on the earth plane, and in reference to 
which almost as many different opinions have been ex- 
pressed without knowledge, as there are persons enter- 
taining them, it should be received as conclusive. And 
so we are no longer dependent upon the teachings of 
Theological Schools . established to furnish instruction 
in regard to what is true or false in relation to the spir- 
itual world, and what is right or wrong as a matter of 
belief. Spiritualism has provided for us a philosophy 
which is natural, based upon truth and which affords 
satisfaction to the reasoning mind. 

We were often annoyed by charges against particular 
individuals, who were known as believers, in regard to 
theu- conduct in private life, accompanied with the as- 
sertion "we do not want anything to do with it, if the 
life of such a person is an ex:ample of the fruit of such 
a belief." Allusion has already been made to this 
point. To such, we have said that they need not wal- 
low in the mire because others do. Accordins^ to the 
teachings of the new philosophy each individual is held 
responsible for personal conduct. No one's wicked 
deeds can be transferred to another, and compensated 
for by a vicarious atonement. Every one may go into 
as high a sphere as his aspiration leads. He has the 
choice of action as a free agent, to the extent that al- 



92 nature's laws 

lows him to degrade himself to lower moral and social 
levels than that which he has attained, if he has no as- 
piration for the highest good. But there is no escaping 
the consequence. Infringement of law of whatever 
kind, is followed by the penalty attached to it. God's 
moral laws are fixed and invariable as the movements 
of the planetary bodies. 

The benefits to be derived from a study of these laws 
are open to all mankind, w^ithout distinction of race, 
color, or nationality. No religious sect can alone catch 
the inspiration and selfishly appropriate it. There is 
therefore no ground for bigotry or intolerance, neither 
is there any warrant for the assumption of authority. 

As we have said, our experience with mediums has 
been extensive. There are but few lecturers whom we 
have not heard, and but few public physical, trance, 
semi-trance, test, writing, singing, drawing, healing or 
clairvoyant mediums, in this country, whom we have 
not either visited, or whose several degrees and varie- 
ties of power or gifts we have not seen exercised. Such 
opportunities, obtained at considerable expense and 
sometimes inconvenience, have accumulated a large 
aggregate of results from observation ; which of course 
if made availablis, afford reliable data upon which to 
form correct opinions. 

We have observed that there is a greater degree of 
freedom among spiritualists than among their oppo- 
nents. Having no fixed creed which all are required 
to subscribe to, as indisputable authority, they are free 
to adopt such views as the evidence before them seems 
to warrant, according to their understanding of its 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 93 

claims. Consequently no two necessarily see alike in 
all points. Each forms an opinion from his own stand- 
point. As one ascends the hill of progression with 
more rapid strides than another and reaches a more ele- 
vated point, he has a more comprehensive view, and 
takes in a wider range of observation. There is as much 
difference therefore between two persons occupying 
different positions in the scale of progression or eleva- 
tion, as there is between high culture and partial 
knowledge, acquired in ordinary mundane experience 
in other directions. 

There is but one essential point upon which we have 
found believers in spiritualism to agree, namely, that 
human beings who once inhabited the earth sphere and 
have left for the abode of spirits can, when conditions 
are favorable, return to earth and hold communion with 
their relatives and friends. 

Upon other subjects they differ, and no particular 
belief is regarded as a test of orthodoxy or heterodoxy, 
or ground of fellowship. 

We have observed among the converts to the spirit- 
ualistic faith a strong tendency to creduhty. It would 
appear that one extreme follows another ; those who 
were obstinate in their conservatism, after yielding their 
assent to the evidence before them becoming enthusias- 
tic, and willing to receive everything that came from 
spirits. This results in disappointment. It is no 
doubt to be attributed to the effect of previous religious 
education. They were taught to believe many things 
concerninor the future life which their recent investio-a- 
tions satisfied them were not founded in truth, and they 



94 nature's laws. 

were compelled to change their opinions. They find that 
the human spirit after completing its earth-life enters 
the spirit spheres with the same traits of character that 
distinguished it before. The change does not produce 
an instantaneous revolution in character, although there 
immediately begins a change of opinions, and the cor- 
rection of errors previously fixed in the mind by false 
teaching. But their education is" gradual and their ut- 
terances upon all subjects cannot be accepted as orac- 
ular. 

They can see better now than before. Secrets are 
revealed realizing the prophetic declaration "and that 
which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be pro- 
claimed upon the housetops." This is an important 
practical fact, for who, fully conscious of it would be 
willing to be discovered in a wrong deed, when a valued 
friend is an eye-witness of it. It has a restraining eiFect 
upon wrong doing. That spirits do thus see passing 
events here we think will be abundantly proven in these 
pages. 

We consider spiritualism the rejected stone that is to 
become the head of the corner, and that the Universal 
Church will be built thereon. It is the broad religion 
of mankind, which is finally to unite all. It encour- 
ages all to perseverance in well-doing. Its philosophy 
prevents the comparatively unfortunate from giving way 
to a feeling of disappointment and dissatisfaction with 
the sphere of life allotted to them, for all have it in 
their power to improve their spiritual condition. 

Notwithstanding our experience has been costly, we 
have never regretted the time and expense incurred, nor 



m HUJVIAN LIFE. 95 

would we part with it. It has been a source of mental 
satisfaction, settling beyond doubt questions of the most 
vital importance. By giving it to the world, the course 
of investigation pursued by others can be greatly facili- 
tated. It is not necessary for all to go through the 
same experience for themselves in order to satisfy their 
minds with regard to the same facts. It has too often 
been insisted on by skeptics that they must see for them- 
selves every thing that has occurred before they will 
yield an assent to the facts that have transpired. But 
no one need enter the channels of vice and pursue a vic- 
ious career, in order to be satisfied that vice exists. 
We must accept under proper restrictions, the testimo- 
ny of others. Otherwise the amount of knowledge in 
the world would be very limited, the longest life-time 
affording opportunity to accumulate but a small portion 
of what is seen, heard and felt in the aggregate. 
Hence the actual experience of any one individual would 
furnish but a trifling contribution to the sum of human 
knowledge. All progress would cease if each was a 
world in himself, independent of aid from his fellow be- 
ings. 

In the course of our observation, we have noticed a 
disposition on the part of some to seek aid from spirits 
in the prosecution of schemes of pecuniary speculation. 
Now what would be thought of the sagacity of a person 
who should stop to inquire of every one, even of his 
intimate business friends, what he should do in a partic- 
ular case. Before this can be done with propriety it 
must first be considered that the person from whom ad- 
vice is sought, is of superior judgment. Spirits who 



96 

have passed beyond the veil, are not necessarily more 
competent to judge of such matters than he who asks 
the questions. Then there are those on that side, who 
still have unworthy designs, and the credulous inquirer 
may be misled, by sacrificing his own individuality, and 
trusting implicitly to the dictation of another. If a 
sensitive, excitable person is under their control, he 
may be led into various excesses, so that they are not 
always to be trusted, even if they are known at times to 
influence a good deed. 

For the same reason what are called good psychologi- 
cal subjects are not always to be relied on. There are 
spirits in the form that are able to control mediums far 
beyond that which is exercised over them by their spir- 
it guides. Caution is therefore as necessary in receiving 
authoritative instruction from one as from the othet. 

We do not believe that spirits in the higher life, who 
have outgrown the material conditions of earth come 
back to dabble with dollars and cents to any great ex- 
tent. They often give evidence to the contrary. Their 
work is to elevate mankind by teaching grand and no- 
ble truths, inculcating correct principles, and aiding the 
recipient of their influence, in the preparation for a 
higher life, its uses, duties and felicities. 

It is not to be inferred that friendly spirits do not 
sometimes give information and impressions with respect 
to matters pertaining to temporal welfare. We have 
known instances where persons had received fine tests 
from their spirit friends, after which, taking advantage 
of their opportunity, they questioned those friends upon 
schemes of money making, and have received answers 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 97 

which wofully deceived them. From what we have 
seen, we do not doubt that the motive of more than 
half the seekers of information into spiritual things is to 
make money out of it, or to ascertain whether they are 
to bury their partner in married Hfe, having in such ca- 
ses, an eye on some other person, in case the prophecy 
is favorable to their desire. Is it a wonder that the 
life path of such is obstructed ? 

We have known church members to consult the spir- 
its for the purpose of inquiring where they can find sto- 
len property, where to get a wife or a husband, what 
prospect there is for them to make money, or to be 
cured of disease. 

But this curiosity, morbid and grovelling as it is, is 
no worse than that which prevailed in Bible times. The 
spirit of Samuel was called up to give information con- 
cerning the future, and there are other examples of per- 
sons seeking familiar spirits for a similar purpose in 
those days. Jesus told the woman at the well how 
many husbands she had. 

Many have lost property in consequence of resorting 
to this method with the hope of adding to it. Indeed 
fortunes have been both made and lost by it, showing 
that if it is a matter of judgment, there is no advantage 
gained over the wisdom of this world. Questions asked 
both in public and private seances, are sometimes re- 
fused answers, and the reason very properly assigned is 
that the information denied would not promote the real 
welfare of the interrogator, or the cause of justice. 
When the purpose of the question is good, it is not al- 
ways that the desired information can be obtained. If 



98 nature's laws 

half the interest was taken in ascertaining the true rela- 
tions of the future life that is manifested in seekinof to 
promote selfish and unworthy objects, there would be 
much more good done. What is life but one continued 
existence, giving opportunity for reaching higher and 
higher good, inspiration meeting the aspiring soul with 
encouragement and reward. 

Among what we have seen of this subject are some of 
the attempts made to expose it. This has sometimes 
been attempted by knaves who have been disappointed 
in accomplishing an unworthy purpose by exposing it, 
taking first one side and then the other. Occasionally 
a good physical medium has added his own feats to the 
genuine phenomena in order still more to excite the 
marvellousness of his audience. More than one such 
might be cited as pursuing this vacillating course re- 
gardless of honest principle, for the purpose of making 
money. A recent example occurred in New York. 
The somewhat notorious B. F. Hatch after losing the 
opportunity of longer appropriating the earnings of his 
young wife's remarkable mediumistic powers, in conse- 
quence of her obtaining a divorce, came out with an ex- 
position first by the publication of a hostile book, then 
by lectures and cabinet peformances. The effort made 
in Cooper Institute according to the pablished accounts, 
was a ludicrous farce, failing to satisfy even such an 
audience as could be induced to listen to it. The pro- 
gramme could not be carried out, but the impatient 
spectators were dissatisfied, vociferating "Hatch it out." 

Not long since we were induced to go to the Boston 
Music Hall one sundav evenins^, to listen to a reverend 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 99 

Divine, who had announced an exposition of various 
humbugs, inckiding Spiritualism and Quack Doctors. 
Some of the Boston merchants had, as v^e learned, paid 
for the use of the Hall, in order that their clerks might 
be taught a lesson of vy^isdom. We wanted to learn it 
too, but there was a preliminary fact to be learned, 
namely, that the gospel was not then and there to be 
had "without money and without price," a charge of 
ten cents being made at the door, for the privilege of 
witnessing the religious gymnastics which followed. 
We remarked that it was a polite way of making mon- 
ey. It must have turned out well for the exposer, as 
an audience of three thousand persons had collected. 
A net worldly profit was doubtless advantageous in en- 
abling the " Minister " to point his moral with additional 
sharpness. His fantastic gestures made a display equal 
to that of a puppet show. 

His exposition of spiritualism consisted in part of the 
reading of a communication purporting to have come 
from the spirit of a little child, who had passed to the 
fair land too soon to have acquired much of this world's 
knowledge or wisdom. Hence its language was simple, 
which the exposer made the butt of ridicule. His igno- 
rance of the law of communication between the world 
of mortals and that of spirits was apparent to all who 
had given the subject any degree of attention, in expect- 
ing an innocent little child, ignorant in a great measure 
of this world's lore, to converse in the strains of wisdom 
and self-importance of a learned divine. Doubtless if 
it had done so, he would have taken the other tack, 
perhaps exclaiming with ministerial contempt, "That 



100 nature's laws 

child needn't put on the airs of a preacher ! " He left 
out of consideration the fact that if a child could com- 
municate its wishes, a strong person of positive power, 
with well developed intellect, and cultured could also. 

In that portion of the moral lesson devoted to quack 
doctors, he attacked an imaginary healer, stating that 
one of them took from this city fifty thousand dollars 
as the fruits of duping the public, and that the "Doc- 
tor" had told a friend of his that he had had six mag- 
netic batteries attached to his person ; that his patients 
thought they were receiving his magnetism, when in 
fact they w^ere receiving it from the batteries. Is this 
a sample of clerical Avisdom and truth ? Is it a speci- 
men of the divine exposer's attainments in chemistry, 
or is it clerical alchemy ? Before the pious merchants 
try to do God service again in this line, they should in- 
quire of some novice whether magnetic batteries can be 
made, by a special miracle to operate in that way. 
But what of the truth of the story ? We had seen it 
published three years before in some of the western pa- 
pers, as having occurred in one of the cities in Ohio. 
We venture to say that if a reward of a thousand dol- 
lars were offered for the discovery of the Doctor, or 
the friend, they could not be found. 

The minister acknowledged that all the personal ex- 
perience he had had in spiritualism was an attendance 
at a single seance, for which he paid a dollar. We 
have seen what a margin he made on his investment. 
At the seance itself he doubtless got paid in his own 
coin. 

It is a fair question whether the "spoils " of that mor- 



IN HUMAN LITE. 101 

al performance had not better have been given to relieve 
some of the poor of the city, than to put it into the 
preacher's divine pocket for crying " humbug " and the 
performance of a series of pseudo-religious gymnastics, 
the moral of which consists in teaching young men to 
believe a lie. 

We have witnessed the exercise of the new faculties 
— or apparently new — known as gifts, on many occa- 
sions. These have already been enumerated. The gift 
of healing is of great importance, and is now very ex- 
tensively in use. It is undoubtedly the fact that the 
possession of this power has in many instances been 
greatly exaggerated. There is a strong motive on the 
part of selfish deceivers to assume the possession of it 
as a means of emolument. It is easier for such by 
lofty pretentions to accumulate money in a short time 
than by pursuing their legitimate avocations. It is a 
fruitful field to operate in. And the more marvellous 
the real effect produced by its exercise, the more ex- 
tensively will imitators push forward their audacious 
pretensions. That there is reality in it, however, is a 
fact too well established by reliable testimony to be 
denied. Cases are related elsewhere in illustration. 
We have refrained from giving the names of healers, 
lest it may be thought that our purpose is to advertize 
the interests of any one or a few to the exclusion of 
others, equally useful and meritorious. Instances 
might be cited, if necessary, where it had been exer- 
cised independently of the will of the medium, and 
where the medium was unwilling to accept remunera- 
tion for the time employed in dispensing benefits. In 



102 nature's laws 

private life also, cases are known where this benefit has 
been imparted to the sick in a marked degree. 

The gift of clairvoyance, or the ability to see spirit- 
ual beings is now so common that it is scarcely neces- 
sary to cite it as one of the faculties recognized as gifts. 
It is very questionable whether any one can be found 
where the subject has been brought to public attention, 
who has not known of some person in the circle of his 
acquaintance, who has given evidence of the possession 
of it. The proof to another^s mind is circumstantial ; 
but the circumstances are in themselves convincing to 
the most incredulously disposed. The sex, the person- 
al appearance, dress, position, manners, voice, modes 
of expression, peculiarities in detail, not known nor to 
be anticipated or guessed at by strangers, when given 
by a medium on meeting a stranger for the first time, 
together with special means used by the spirits for the 
very purpose of recognition , to the surprise of the rela- 
tive or friend who obtains the interview through the 
medium, are all means more or less positive, of identi- 
fication. The shrewdest and most skilful, by observ- 
ing the evidences of nationality may guess at a name, 
and by the evidences of occupation, by temperament, 
physiognomy and other physical signs make a case here 
and there, which is, so to speak, a good counterfeit ; 
but in no case can a specific fact, or a special personal 
peculiarity be imitated. 

Speaking in unknown tongues, by which of course is 
understood, languages unknown to the medium or to 
most of the persons listening to the remarks or dis- 
course, is now quite common. Cases have been pub- 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 103 

lished several years ago, illustrating this gift in unedu- 
cated persons, who could not possibly imitate connected 
sentences, nor express ideas in a language foreign to 
them, which they had never studied. An Irish domes- 
tic in New York, while in a trance condition was made 
to converse in modern Greek, with a Greek gentleman 
present, the only one who could understand and inter- 
pret that language. 

Drawing, singing, and the performance of instru- 
mental music through spirit power have been of frequent 
occurrence, the mediums knowing either nothing at all 
of those accomplishments, or so little as to excite as- 
tonishment by the marvellous skill displayed. 

Of physical mediumship we have seen much, but as 
this will be found in other portions of this compilation, 
we need not consume much time here in the narration. 
The moving of material objects without contact in the 
presence of mediums of this class, musical instruments 
being played upon without the touch of human fingers, 
the person recognized as the medium merely holding 
the instrument, as a guitar for example, by its extrem- 
ity are instances of this kind. The production of like- 
nesses is a remarkable circumstance. We have not 
personally been present during the evolution of spirit- 
photographs, but the fact is attested by numerous wit- 
nesses. 

The impressional and inspirational influence is man- 
ifest in so many ways, that it is almost without limita- 
tion. Opinion and belief are modified and corrected by 
it. The inventor, the public speaker, the singer, the 
physician, the writer, the moralist, are all more or less 



104 nature's laws 

inspired, and their efforts rendered successful according 
to the degree of their unfoldment and receptivity. 

We have been gratified to knovr that all doubters are 
not revilers. Skeptics are generally such, because they 
are not w^ell informed. The obstinate opposer often 
makes absurd objections, unworthy of notice. The 
honest doubter sometimes asks, "If spirit friends come 
to others why can't my friends come to me ? " We re- 
ply that it requires not only the desire of the spirit 
friend, which we may suppose generally to exist, but 
appropriate conditions. If you wish to send a message 
by telegraph, you must go to the operator v^ith it. It 
may be asked why does not the sender deliver his own 
message? It is simply impossible, unless he goes to 
the distant city where his friend or correspondent is. 
While the two remain apart, he must avail himself of 
the intermediate means of communication. It takes 
time for the operator to learn how to transmit the mes- 
sage with facility and accuracy. How can we expect 
our spirit friends to be able to control the subtle forces 
so as to communicate with us without adequate prepa- 
ration ? 

The medium then is employed as an instrument for 
the conveyance of the message. In many cases a spirit 
child seems to be chosen as a messenger by the com- 
municating spirit, the child holding possession of the 
medium. We have thought that the purpose of this 
was to show the value of artlessness and truthfulness. 
A greater moral effect is produced thereby, for an adult 
will bear reproof from a pure child which is the person- 
ification of innocence, which they would resent if ad- 



IN HUMAN LIFE. lOo 

ministered in positive terms bj an equal. The words 
uttered audibly by the medium when thus controlled 
are simple, and the manner artless. Familiar names 
are given to, and adopted by these children, as "Spark- 
ling Water," "Spring Flower," and "Violet." The 
influence is persuasive rather than dicta,torial. It is 
less exhausting than a more positive power to the me- 
dium, who is thereby saved from a severe struggle. 
Such persons are also revived and soothed after the ex- 
haustino: effect of a lecture delivered under control. 
The same mollifying and recuperative influence contin- 
ues to be exercised by the spirit child who remains in 
these particulars child-like, by a progressive growth in 
wisdom. This same blessed influence is employed as a 
beneficent power behind that of the spirit who has im- 
mediate control. 

If spirits can present themselves in a variety of 
shapes, and represent diflerent degrees of material 
growth to their friends ; if they can, as it were, present 
themselves for identification in the same dress worn by 
them in earth-life, and exhibit well known acts or pe- 
culiarities of character, is it not possible that they can 
manifest themselves in any other form which they may 
desire ? Nor it is to be supposed that they really take 
on the material form, after having thrown it ofl" by the 
change called death. 

In relation to the expectation of seekers after spirit- 
ual knowledge in visiting mediums we may remark that 
it is necessary to submit their request in good faith. 
Spirits in celestial life have not lost their acuteness of 
perception ; rather than that, it has been increased ; 



106 nature's laws 

hence they know the purpose of the inquirer as well or 
better than he does himself, for he may be so foolish as 
to deceive himself. Neither have they sacrificed self- 
respect. If a person, in conscious self-importance, and 
with a disposition to raillery, alleges that he wants to 
communicate with his grandmother, and wants her to 
give her name, he will very likely be rebuked by the 
answer that it is "Sam Patch." 

They are entitled to as much civility and respectful 
treatment as would be required on entering the house 
of a person here on a matter of business, and especially 
where the party entering is to be the recipient of bene- 
fit. The spirit seeing, and to some extent, anticipating 
our needs, whether they pertain to material afiairs, 
physical health, or spiritual welfare, will meet us with 
a cordial, friendly disposition. They should not be 
urgently importuned, nor a desire amounting to a de- 
mand indulged. If the interview reveals the fact that 
the spirit is not cognizant of our need, advice would not 
be reliable nor valuable, though in such a case it is not 
probable that it would be offered. 

Many mediums imagine themselves to be controlled 
by spirits who in earth-life had acquired high degrees of 
distinction ; and who have voluntarily assumed the office 
of guides to them. It is a display of vanity on their 
part, although they may have been led to believe that 
that relation has been assumed, by a statement of a 
spirit at some time previous, getting control. An ec- 
centric, mischievous, jocular person, of marked humor- 
ous talent, may carry with him this peculiar trait, and 
play upon the credulity of a medium, without intend- 



IN hu:man life. 107 

ing serious or permanent mischief. Another may be 
less scrupulous. 

Sensible persons gain wisdom by experience, and al- 
though they may have been led to believe that they were 
the chosen instruments of great orators and sages, they 
discover the deception and abandon the claim, preserv- 
ing their own individuality. 

Mediums who are readily susceptible to psychological 
control, to preserve their usefulness and avoid danger, 
should refrain from contact with positive persons, whose 
character is not known. The old adage which affirms 
that " a person is known by the company he keeps " holds 
good to this day. Those who can preserve their ov/n 
independence and do not yield to the power of others, 
may safely move among a variety of persons promis- 
cously, and may do good by precept and example. It 
is the mission of good spirits visiting us from the sum- 
mer land, to elevate those occupying a lower plane than 
themselves, and in this they should be emulated by spir- 
its dwelling in the physical form. Sensitives who wil- 
lingly associate with drunkards, gamblers, or licentious 
persons, are liable to become contaminated by the evil 
influence which belongs to such company, which drags 
them down below their own level of morality. We 
have seen innocent persons led by the attraction of 
strong psychological power of spirits both in and out of 
the form ; and one is as dangerous as the other. The 
power thus named if employed by a person of good 
moral principle, will be beneficial, physically and mor- 
ally, but if put to base uses, much misery will fol- 
low. 



108 natuee's laws 

Mercenary conduct on the part of mediums is stated 
elsewhere, but a word or two more may not be out of 
place, as one of the items of personal observation. 
We have known them, while being paid for their ser- 
vices, to take advantage of the confidence reposed in 
them, by resorting to tricks of various kinds to compass 
selfish ends. . Some succeed so thoroughly in ingratia- 
ting themselves in the minds of their patrons, as to be 
regarded in the light of little deities. Their newly made 
friends could not be persuaded that the medium while 
under spiril; iniluence was capable of a dishonest act. 
Their conduct received but little aid, if any, from spir- 
its of any sort. Nervous persons, of great impressibility 
once yielding their confidence in this way, throwing 
prudence aside, forget that mediums are human, and 
subject to human failures. 

We know instances where mediums have been guilty 
of deception, falsifying, and cheating their visitors. Al- 
though charity covers a multitude of sins, it is unjust, 
and a mistaken liberality to cover up a mean act in a 
way that will encourage its repetition. We should re- 
gard it a trifling injury to be robbed of our money in 
comparison'to the pretence of giving us something from 
the spirit-world, w^hich originated in the machination of 
the medium, the spirit who is alleged to have given it, 
not even being present. We have more than one in 
our mind to whom this criticism is applicable ; and if 
any one feels the application, knowing his own pecca- 
dilloes, let him appropriate it, and reform the errors of 
his ways. 

Many mediums claim that they are taken full posses- 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 109 

sion of by the spirit, and are when thus controlled, en- 
tirely unconscious. This is true of some, and a por- 
tion remain so until the controlling power is withdrawn ; 
but generally they soon become conscious, although still 
prompted by the spirit, who dictates the utterances. 

There are other points in our experience which will 
be mentioned in their appropriate connection. 



MEDIUMSHIP. 

Mediumship is one of the most curious and interest- 
ing phases of human experience. The subject has re- 
cently been so fully treated by Mr. Thomas R. Hazard 
in a series of articles written for the Banner of Light, 
and re-published in pamphlet form, that we might omit 
its consideration, but for the fact that this volume may 
go into the hands of persons whom the pamphlet might 
not reach. We desire moreover to present an outline 
of the main subject, as nearly complete as practicable. 
We therefore avail ourselves of a few paragraphs, re- 
ferring the reader to the pamphlet, which will repay a 
perusal, for a more connected and thorough presenta- 
tion of Mr. H's views. 

The exercise of mediumistic power is not a matter of 
choice. The peculiar faculty or gift comes unsought. 
In some of its forms it is very much desh^ed by many 
who do not possess it, and cannot acquire it by any ef- 
fort of the will, particularly that of clairvoyance. It is 
sometimes manifested suddenly, but more generally is a 



110 nature's laws 

process of regular, gradual development. This may be 
aided to some extent by observing and complying with 
the requisite conditions. The chief of these is the ap- 
plication of appropriate magnetism adapted to the par- 
ticular phj^sical constitution of the person seeking to 
acquire it. Such persons sometimes ask if it is best for 
them to make use of such means. We are of opinion 
that it is not, a gradual growth being more satisfactory 
and practicable than forced development. The latter 
may be compared to the forcing process resorted to for 
the purpose of accelerating the growth of plants. They 
reach maturity more rapidly, but do not acquire strength 
to resist the power of the wind, as the Oak does, which 
grows slowly, but acquires by a sure process, vigor and 
sturdiness to resist the violence of the storm. 

Injury is done by inharmonious influences brought to 
bear by unsuitable combinations of diiferent qualities of 
magnetism. Caution in this respect is therefore to be 
observed. Nor is it wise to indulge an anxious desire for 
development. Time will bring about the requisite con- 
ditions, so that it is not necessary to abandon a legiti- 
mate business, for the purpose of carrying on the prac- 
tice of mediumship in any form, as some do, imagining 
on receiving the first decided impulse, that they are 
called to the work. Such premature movements Only 
result in failure, as well as pecuniary loss by the wast- 
ing of time. 

The impulse, however, may be too strong for resist- 
ance, and the subject of it may with propriety yield 
obedience to it, if it has been proved, upon being prop- 
erly tested, to be of a benignant character. 



IN HUMAN LIFE. Ill 

Some go through severe discipline in the process of 
development. If they are compelled to change their 
occupation, and devote their time to their new calling, 
it is of course reasonable that they should be sustained 
in the work. There is the greatest inequality in this 
respect. Some of the best are but poorly compensated. 
Others as soon as they begin to be appreciated take ad- 
vantage of their opportunity, and charge extravagantly 
fur services rendered. Operating upon a limited scale 
among neighbors and friends, and particularly the poor 
among them, their ordinary avocation not being inter- 
fered with, they may use their gift gratuitously. 

When it is engaged in as a duty, requiring their 
whole time to be devoted to it, no reasonable person 
can object to a fair compensation being paid. This can 
be regulated on an equitable basis, being governed 
somewhat by circumstances, among which will be the 
relative pecuniary ability of the party receiving the ser- 
vice, the wealthy not however being compelled to pay 
extravagantly, and out of proportion to the value of the 
service merely because of their good fortune. When 
the latter feel it a duty to pay liberally, and derive 
pleasure therefrom, it enables the medium to render 
the same service to the poor who need it, without di- 
rect reward. Thus both giver and receiver are alike 
blessed. Some are so unselfish as to be unjust to them- 
selves in this respect. Excellent healers, although 
themselves needy, will sometimes unwisely decline com- 
pensation altogether. 

Spirits from the higher spheres who have outgrown 
material propensities, have no desire to encourage the 



112 nature's laws 

accumulation of wealth, and therefore do not influence 
mediums to that end. Knowing that its use is to clothe 
and nourish the body, they rather, when that is accom- 
plished, favor the distribution of surplus means where 
it is needed, and discourage hoarding. This they have 
been known to do in a marked manner. 

The following remarks by Mr. Hazard set forth the 
trials of mediums. 

"How often do superficial or ignorant investigators go 
to mediums with a lie in their hearts, expecting, at the 
same time, to get truth in return — a thing as utterly 
impossible as that the eye of the astronomer shotdd pen- 
etrate the heavens on demand of a thick-skulled man, 
at the very moment that he is pressing his body against 
the lens of the telescope. ' 

"Contrast the treatment our mediums receive, and the 
estimation in which they are held, even by many of their 
friends, with that which is extended to the clergy of all 
the popular creedal denominations ! Wherever these 
go, they receive greetings in the markets and public 
places. They enjoy the chief seats at our feasts, and 
the highest in our synagogues and churches. Every 
one bows low when they meet them, and calls them 
rabbis and reverends, doctors and fathers ; and when 
they enter our houses, they become the observed of all 
observers ; and when they go abroad, conductors of 
railway cars and captains of steamboats hasten to give 
them the best seats and berths they have at their dispo- 
sal, free of charge ; and wherever they pray, be it in 
the pulpit of the church, the cabin of the ship, or at the 
corner of the street, all bow the head and knee in re- 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 113 

spectful reverence, even though the prayer should be as 
one of those that Jesus said used to be offered in his day, 
merely to be heard of men. But how when we meet 
the poor mediums in the market, whither they may have 
wended their way to purchase, mayhap, a morsel of 
cheap food for their day's sustenance ? Who of their kid- 
gloved acquaintance greets them then ? Who invite them 
to their feasts ? Who respectfully salutes them as minis- 
ters of the angels ? Who opens to them the doors of 
their houses, except on sufferance, or to 'give a seance?' 
What captain of a steamboat or conductor of a railroad 
car approaches them, except to demand their ticket, and 
see that it is paid in full ? They partake of none of the 
courtesies and privileges that are so lavishly bestowed 
on the clergy of the popular churches, and in fact are, 
literally speaking, often as poor and as much despised 
as was that Elder Brother of their order who used to 
pour out his anguished soul in the lonely garden of 
Gethsemane, or give it sorrowing utterance in the pa- 
thetic lament : 'The foxes have holes, and the birds of 
the air have nests ; but the Son of Man hath not where 
to lay his head.' " 

The forms of mediumship, as heretofore intimated, 
are numerous, embracing a great variety of remarkable 
physical manifestations, as well as astonishing mental 
phenomena, to each of which we shall allow reasonable 
space in items to be quoted. 

The mediums for physical manifestations have been 
subjected to great annoyance and suspicion. This is 
partly chargeable to a most illiberal prejudice in the 
minds of the ignorant, and partly to the mingling of 



114 nature's laws 

fraudulent tricks with truthful demonstrations. Hon- 
est mediums, innocent of the slightest attempt at decep- 
tion have been falsely accused from the time the first 
raps were heard, to the appearance of hands formed by 
spirits. That hands have not only been seen, but have 
been tangible, we have abundant evidence ; yet the me- 
diums have been charged with using their own hands 
and feet to produce the effect which witnesses have de- 
scribed, and that by spiritualists themselves, who would 
have been almost willing to make oath that the hands 
and feet which touched them were those of human flesh, 
the latter having shoes upon them, and that they were 
like the shoes of the medium ; nor could we convince 
them to the contrary. This was a painful position for 
any well-meaning person to be placed in — two friends 
present, both considered honorable, and both spiritual- 
ists, taking opposite grounds, in reference to an alleged 
facf . What can be the explanation ? The conclusion 
we have reached is that the spirit uses the emanations 
from the medium for the moment, containing the chem- 
ical forces, from the hands and feet, forming temporari- 
ly, producing or projecting, as the terms have been used 
respectively, hands and feet which for the instant 
were palpable and visible. This is of course, conjectural 
and may be accepted by the reader, unless he has anoth- 
er hypothesis more satisfactory to his own mind. Spir- 
it hands thus formed are used for touching, handling, 
and playing upon instruments. If the medium was not 
present, the spirits would have none of these subtle, 
vital elements to operate with. 

The force of liorht, in the case of mediums of ordina- 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 115 

ry power, disperses those elements, and destroys the 
manifestations. In one or two of the more recent cases 
where the mediums have become more highly developed 
this obstacle has less force. In dark circles, when the 
instruments were sailing over our heads, sometimes on 
one side of the moon, and at other times on the oppo- 
site side, not admitting of the slightest opportunity for 
deception, when a light was suddenly created by a fric- 
tion match, the instrument would as suddenly drop at 
whatever point it might be arrested. This proves the 
necessity of conditions being observed, as much so as 
the use of light for the production of photographic pic- 
tures of objects copied. If the law by which these 
things are done is not understood, the critic should not 
condemn the conditions which seem to be necessary for 
carrying on the process. 

"If Daniel Webster speaks as tersely and powerfully 
as he did when he stood in the United States Senate 
Chamber, he must communicate his ideas to a medium 
of equal powerful brain structure as he possessed, to 
have them * syllabled' with equal force and effect, and 
perhaps the audience who is listening should be as ca- 
pable of appreciating the full force of the words as were 
his fellow senators to give the medium even then full 
inspiration. As it is, spirits cannot get control of many 
such brain structures as Webster possessed, and there- 
fore have to impress their ideas on inferior organisms, 
that are often only able to give them forth indistinctly 
embodied amidst a mass of their own redundant verbi- 
age and platitudes. In the good time coming when 
* Spiritualism' becomes more popular, the defect may 



116 nature's laws 

possibly be in a degree remedied, unless, as has almost 
always hitherto been the case, these more talented me- 
diums turn traitors to the higher intelligences, and be- 
come of the order of ^rogues (denounced by him of the 
Golden Age) , who steal the livery of Spiritualism to 
serve their devilish selves therewith,' not only in the 
pulpit, but on the rostrums or wherever else such daws 
and popinjays can strut and show themselves decked in 
their stolen mediumistic plumes. 

*'As there are exceptions to all general rules in mun- 
dane affairs, so there appear to be in spiritual ; and I 
know of many instances wherein persons of certain pe- 
culiarities of organization find it very difficult to obtain 
the necessary conditions for spirit communion, at the 
same time that they are not at all either personally or 
spiritually offensive to disembodied spirits. 

"The longer I live the more clearly I see that the 
maxim of Jesus, concerning little children, affords the 
only safe rule by which investigators of the phenomena 
that occur through spirit-mediums, can arrive at satis- 
factory results. Next to pharisaical spiritual pride, the 
pride of intellect, and that which too often attaches to 
superficial or mere mechanical learning, offer the most 
impenetrable barriers to the acquisition of spiritual 
knowledge, especially if they be coupled with contempt- 
uous feelings toward the medium, and, above all, with 
spiteful suspicions of their honesty. In the early stages 
of my investigations, I confess that I was very much 
addicted to suspicions of this kind , and so long as I in- 
dulged in them I obtained but little satisfaction. My 
constant desire was to obtain tests, which I somehow 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 117 

fancied I liad a right to demand, like the Pharisees of 
old, rather than thankfully receive, in the spirit of the 
little child, as a free gift. Whilst in this state of mind 
I seldom received much that w^as satisfactory. 

"There are but few, probably, who have a proper con- 
ception of the extreme sensitiveness of a medium's mind, 
and how easy it is to be psychologized by mundane in- 
fluences when it is in a condition sufficiently negative 
to admit of spirit-control. When in that state a medi- 
um's mind may be likened to a double-faced looking- 
glass — the one side reflecting from the spiritual to the 
mundane, and the other from the mundane to the spir- 
itual sphere ; the same psychological laws prevailing in 
both alike. 

"That spirit-manifestations (especially physical) are 
greatly influenced by the state or quality of the atmos- 
phere, there can be no doubt. I know of excellent me- 
diums in whose presence no phenomena ever occur 
when the weather indicates rain. And yet, when it 
was bright and clear, I have known, through some of 
these, the most powerful manifestations to occur that I 
ever witnessed." 

"It would seem that, in the production of certain kinds 
of phenomena, the presence of light has a corresponding 
eflect to that of the will, and darkness to that of its ab- 
sence — the one being positive and the other negative. 
Thus, at a spirit-seance, in the absence of any exertion 
of mundane will-power, the medium's mind may be 
taken full possession of by the 'powers of the air,' and 
communicate freely of things belonging not to earth ; 
but let a powerful will force be thrown upon the in- 



118 nature's laws 

strument's mind, from one or more of the circle, and 
the character of the manifestations may instantly change , 
or cease altogether, just as they do upon the introduc- 
tion of light at a dark circle." 

The identification of spirits by name is often sought 
by investigators with but little satisfaction. It may be 
accounted for in two ways, viz : spirits attach no im- 
portance to names as sources of authority, but admon- 
ish us that a communication should be estimated 
according to its intrinsic merits, rather than because it 
was given by a particular person. Again it seems 
probable that when they are born into the spirit-life 
they receive a spirit name, as a child does after being 
born into this world, and are no longer known by the 
latter. Hence, except for recognition, the name known 
in connection with their mundane history is no longer 
used. Spirits recognize otJier spirits by interior percep- 
tion, so that in communicating with beings on earth, 
they dispense with mere forms. The probabilities of 
deception as to name is considerable, hence personal 
identity in respect to form, habits in earth-life, specific 
opinions, and in fact all that goes to make up individu- 
ality is far better for recognition with them. The mem- 
ory of names fades with us here, so that a traveller who 
has been absent for some years, on returning readily 
recognizes persons with whom they have not been partic- 
ularly acquainted, and sometimes even others, by physi- 
cal appearances but fails to remember names. Is it not 
probable that having no longer any use for their earth- 
ly name, but laying it aside,, w^hen called for at a 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 119 

circle without any particular need, they may hesitate to 
give it. Sympathy will keep the memory active as to 
substantial realities. 

The question has often been asked whether the spirit 
of the medium leaves the body while in a trance state. 
It is a matter of observation that scarcely any two me- 
diums are affected alike, when under control, in all par- 
ticulars. Some are psychologically impressed, the me- 
dium's spirit being acted upon as a mesmeric subject. 
In other cases the spirit takes complete control of the 
body of the medium, his or her spirit being at liberty to 
roam or to remain quiet by their side. The link bind- 
ing the two cannot be entirely broken, for that would 
constitute the change called death. 

A few marked cases of certain varieties of medium- 
ship may here be cited to illustrate the intensity of 
power and skill employed by the invisible intelligences 
in these particular directions. 

Of the writino' mediums Mr. J. Y. Mansfield has 

o 

become widely known. Formerly a successful mer- 
chant in Boston, he was compelled by those higher 
powers to adopt the practice of answering sealed letters 
as a regular business. Retiring from his previous oc- 
cupation, in obedience to the impulse given him, he 
has been engaged in his new calling ever since, now a 
period of fifteen years, and with the most successfal and 
satisfactory results. Thousands of persons have re- 
ceived answers to letters, and had their letters returned 
therewith, unopened. Mr. M. writes in many lan- 
guages, although he never acquired the knowledge of 
any but his vernacular. The letters sent to him to be 



120 nature's laws 

answered have been doubly enveloped, pasted, tied, 
sewed, sealed with wax, and their contents concealed in 
a variety of other ways so that each writer was perfectly 
satisfied that it was impossible for them to be read un- 
less by destroying the carefully guarded covering. 

We once took a sealed letter to Mr. M. , containing 
some fifteen questions, written by an insane person for- 
merly an inmate of the McLean Asylum. As soon as 
he took hold of the letter, he said he should think the 
devils had got hold of him. The influence affected him 
as the lady who wrote it was affected. Every question 
was answered to the satisfaction of all who knew the 
circumstances. We have several times tested his pow- 
ers with great satisfaction. 

Mr. R. W. Flint is another writing medium who has 
a similar gift which we have found to be equally valu- 
able and reliable. He too was compelled to leave his 
former occupation to engage exclusively in this. 

Of spirit artists, Mr. William P. Anderson is a not- 
able example. While entranced, he has executed some 
of the finest drawins^s that can be imas^ined. For some 
of them which were considered exquisitely finished he 
received several thousand dollars. Taken from his oc- 
cupation in a cabinet-makers shop, he was irresistibly 
led to the adoption of portrait drawing as a business. 
Mr. Starr, Mr. Milleson, and others were brought out 
in the same way. Mrs. Blair was controlled in such a 
manner as to execute the drawing of flowers and wreaths 
while her eyes 'were bandaged by several thicknesses of 
cloth, so effectually excluding the light as to remove 
doubt from the most skeptical minds on that point. 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 121 

While thus bandaged she would, in the presence of 
Jai^ge audiences in ten minutes time produce a beautiful 
picture, often emblematical, so that the party for whom 
it was drawn would recognize its purpose and meaning. 
Mrs. Hazelton, who was entirely uncultivated in this 
accomplishment, had the gift bestowed upon her, so 
that within the last few years she has executed symbol- 
ical drawings so skilfully as to astonish the most dis- 
tinguished artists. No one not witnessing these per- 
formances can form any correct idea of the beauty of 
design and skill in execution displayed in this way. 

One of the most remarkable phases of physical medi- 
umship is the elevation and removal of the bodies of 
mediums from one part of the room to another, or out 
of one room into another ; and even to greater distan- 
ces. Jennie and Annie Lord at their seances have been 
taken up in their chairs bodily, and placed upon the ta- 
ble without physical contact. Hundreds in various 
parts of the country can testify to this statement. Har- 
ry Gordon and some others have been taken up in the 
same way and carried across the room. Truthful citi- 
zens of the highest respectability have testified to these 
facts. 

Dr. Willis, N. Frank White, Mrs. Coan, Miss Sug- 
den and Mrs. Hayden are mediums of this class. We 
have satin the presence of all of them, both in private 
circles and public meetings. The spirits would respond 
to the remarks of speakers on these occasions by raps 
as loud as if a good sized nail were being driven by sharp 
blows of a hammer, and heard by all, under circum- 
stances where deception was impossible. 



122 nature's laws 

There are thousands of private mediums scattered all 
over the v\^orld, vv^ho never make any public exhibition 
of the wonderful manifestations made through them, but 
who are constantly giving their friends most convincing 
evidence of the truth of spiritual phenomena. Many 
more are influenced in a peculiar manner, who do not 
know the cause of their peculiar feelings, nor the mean- 
ing. Their condition is often , mistaken for sickness, 
and they are plied with drugs with the expectation of 
affording relief from what is supposed to be physical 
disease. The physician called to treat the case not un- 
derstanding the meaning of the singular phenomena that 
he witnesses resorts to some preparation of Opium or 
Chloral, which retards the development of the medium, 
by disturbing the harmony of the forces. Persons un- 
dergoing this change are sometimes considered insane 
and sent to an Asylum, while there is no diseased ac- 
tion to treat. 

The necessity of harmonious conditions has been men- 
tioned in connection with manifestations in general. 
It is particularly to be observed when visiting a medium 
for the purpose of getting either a written or a verbal 
communication from personal friends. Harmony must 
prevail between the seeker and the medium. Mediums 
are not always successful. One may fail to obtain 
any thing in a particular case, and another succeed, 
when both are reliable, the failure in the one case not de- 
pending upon any fault in the medium, any more than 
success in the other is a proof of superior merit. 

A good deal of excitement was exhibited for some 
months in reference to spirit-photographs. Mr. Mum- 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 123 

ler, the principal artist in this line having been subject- 
ed to a prosecution on a charge of fraud, which resulted 
however in his acquittal. It is a matter which cannot 
as readily be disposed of as those which involve only 
the sense of sight, touch or hearing. Professional art- 
ists or persons having accurate chemical knowledge are 
necessary to aid in the settlement of the question wheth- 
er the pictures which appear on the plates are genuine, 
and not the result of a process within the power of any 
photographer to reproduce. Yet if there is an absolute 
likeness produced, and no work of art in any style h:is 
been previously executed, from which to copy, the 
likeness being readily recognized by any calm observ- 
er, not excited by anxious hope, to the verge of imagi- 
nation, it ought to be considered satisfactory proof. 

The weiofht of evidence is now in favor of the ffenu- 
ineness of these productions. Moses A. Dow Esq. 
has given an account of his experience with Mr. Mum- 
ler, which afforded him satisfactory proof. Similar tes- 
timony has been given by Judge Edmonds and others 
of credibility, but not over credulous. 

On the doubtful side artists say there is great op- 
portunity for deception. After all it is a question of 
recognition, and every person of common sense ought 
to know the likeness of a familiar face. 

Various questions have been discussed through speak- 
ers and writers in reference to the character and the 
subject matter of communications, which we quote in a 
somewhat desultory manner. 

Concerning the phenomena of Spiritualism detailed 
in the Christian Scriptures it has been remarked : 



124 

"The more I have investigated the phenomena of 
* modern Spiritualism,' and the wonderful complex 
character of spirit mediumship, the more clearly I have 
been enabled to comprehend how exactly its character 
and phenomena correspond to those which occurred 
through the ministrations of Jesus of Nazareth and his 
mediumistic disciples. With a little modification or 
explanation of the terms used in the New Testament, 
they are parallel." 

The following questions were propounded to the in- 
telligence conducting one of the seances, "How is it 
that returning spirits are so much given to prophesying 
future events ? Is this knowledo;e of facts and events 
that are to be an absolute knowledge ? Are there laws 
governing the succession of circumstances which are in- 
evitably sure in their working, and are there spirits who 
can read them correctly? If so, how comes so much 
false prophecy ? " 

The answer was given in these words : 

The old adage that "Coming events cast their shad- 
ows before, " contains a very great truth. It means 
this : that all the conditions incident to this material 
life have first what would be termed a spectral existence 
in the other life, or, in other words, beyond your sight 
or knowledge. As your own Emerson says : "Truth 
is always in the air, and those who are the most suscep- 
tible to it get it first." These spectral conditions are 
always in your midst, and spirits have no difficulty in 
seeing them, defining them, and tracing them to their 
ultimates here with you. The reasons why so many 
mistakes are made are to the reasoning mind very obvi- 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 125 

ous : First — the channels arc all more or less imperfect 
through which they prophesy ; second — the conditions 
which surround the channels are all more or less imper- 
fect, and surely these two circumstances are enough to 
render unreliable almost every prophecy that is made 
unto you. 

The following illustrates the injudicious tendency of 
incorrect teachings, and certain mental disturbances. 

Q. — Do you not think that a great many mediums 
have done a great deal of harm among certain classes ? 

A. — I certainly do, inasmuch as they are unfortu- 
nately organized, so that they attract to themselves a 
class of spiritual teachers who are poorly adapted to give 
spiritual truth. And again, there are others who throw 
themselves upon this great rushing tide of spiritual in- 
flux before they are half-fledged as mediums, and, there- 
fore, harm ensues. 

Q. — Do you think any more are made insane 
through the means of Spiritualism than by old Theolo- 
gy? 

A. — Statistical records show that the number of in- 
sane persons who have been made insane by modern 
Spiritualism are far in the minority when compared with 
those who have been made insane by popular Christian- 
ity. We do not know how these notes will compare 
when Spiritualism is eighteen hundred and seventy one 
years old. 

Q. — I should judge by the question answered previ- 
ously, that you do not deny that Spiritualism is injuri- 
ous to mankind ? 



126 nature's laws 

A. — Everything — I care not whether the thing be 
good, very good, or bad, very bad, or ranging between 
the two — is, to some, a positive evil. Modern Spirit- 
ualism proposes to bring more of goodness than evil to 
humanity. Thus far it has done this, as its record, spir- 
itual and mortal, will show. 

Q. — Can truth, under any circumstances be injuri- 
ous? 

A. — Yes it can ; because the injurious things, or evil 
things, of this life are measured by the senses of this 
life. Therefore, measuring truth by the senses of the 
mortal life, there are conditions under which it had bet- 
ter be withheld ; for if it is expressed it will do harm. 

The following passages are quoted from discourses 
given through a noted trance-speaker. 

The question is asked : " Why are the communica- 
tions of the spirits so vague, and conveyed in so mys- 
terious a manner as to leave doubts, on the mind, of 
their being genuine ?" First, if modern spiritualism be 
true, and if there is a principle by which those in the 
spirit-world can communicate with persons on the earth, 
it is controlled by a fixed and positive law ; that law is as 
certain when applied correctly, and as uncertain when 
applied incorrectly, as is telegraphic communication be- 
tween New York and Washington. If a man along 
any portion of the route cat the wire, your telegraphic 
message will stop at that point ; or, if there is any fault 
in the operator, your message will be sent incorrectly. 
It is the same in communications between this and the 
spirit world. There are lines of thought and feeling ; 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 127 

minds, and tables, and chairs, are but the wires which 
they use to convey their thoughts. You are at one end 
of that telegraphic chain, your spirit-friend at the other. 
If there is no intervening influence, the message will be 
conveyed ; if, in any way, the line of communication is 
disturbed, the message will be incorrectly given. You 
call it a lie, and give up Spiritualism. But there are 
sufficient communications that do come correct, to prove, 
to any candid mind, that this spiritual communication 
is an absolute science ; and no man of reason or judg- 
ment, if there were, in a hundred cases, one that was 
correct, or one out of every ten, would pretend to say 
that the other nine proved that it was not a science. It 
is the natural order of a new science to make mistakes ; 
this is true of the infancy of all sciences. But if, in the 
tenth time of trying, you succeed, it demonstrates the 
principle, and ten thousand failures cannot disprove it. 
And if nine out of every ten mediums give you false 
communications, and the tenth one gives you a correct 
one, that proves the principle. If nine out of every 
ten spirits lie to you, that only proves that those passing 
from the earth retain something of their earthly char- 
acter. 

"Your father, mother, husband, or wife, or child, 
may be close beside you , their souls almost throbbing 
with your own. Yet there is no chain, no medium, no 
telegraph there. The doors of your external senses 
shut them out. They may knock at the doors of your 
mind ; you do not receive them. You cry ^Humbug ! 
psychology ! mesmerism !' Your friend remains in si- 
lence. Again, your spirit-friend may even endeavor to 



128 nature's laws 

communicate with your mind, without using any such 
outward means, in a beautiful thought or feeHng. But 
the physical form may be an obstruction to the correct 
transmission of the communication, in the present im- 
perfect state of the science. 

" Out of all the spirits that are accused of lying, prob- 
ably not one in a hundred does so intentionally. Ev- 
erything is called a lie which does not precisely, in all 
its points bear the criticism of those who investigate it. 
What we call a lie is that which is given with the inten- 
tion of deceiving. Something given in ignorance is 
not really a lie. For instance, a man may state, in all 
sincerity, that the moon is green. Now, probably there 
is something which causes that man to see the moon in 
that color. You all say that he is mistaken, you call 
it a lie, a falsity, a deception ; it is real to him. J^ow, 
spirits, employing mediums whose brain is not wholly 
under their control, are liable to tell you that white 
things are green, that something occurred which you 
know did not ; but that does not prove that it is not a 
spirit ; it does not even prove that it is not your spirit- 
friend who professes to communicate ; it only proves 
that they have not perfect control of the medium. 

"The time is not far distant, when raps, tippings, 
writings, and even trance-speaking, or any extraordin- 
ary manifestations, will all pass away, and man in the 
external image of his own divinity will see, and hear, 
and feel the presence of the angel-world all around him, 
and your own souls shall not require your external vis- 
ion, or external feeling, or any of the external senses, 
to prove to you that spirits and angels are really here. 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 129 

* 

They shall come to you in the stilly night, with soft 
and pleasant voices. They shall sing to you the songs 
of perfect love and peace ; and no man will have a 
doubt. This is our prophecy. How is it to be done ? 
By a gradual and almost imperceptible growth into a 
more spiritual condition ; and, as it is reaching its cul- 
minating point, the time may not be as far distant as 
most people may imagine. Spirituality is far more 
rapidly growing upon the inhabitants of earth than in 
any former period of man's history. The slow steps of 
a world, forever slow in acknowledging the truth, shall 
accomplish more in the next fifty years than it has done 
in the last thousand. Yet it will be slow, for it must 
come step by step, like the wheels of some majestic 
chariot ; the more majestic and grand, the more slow 
and solemn shall be its approach. It shall not come to 
you at once, with an overwhelming power, like the day 
of pentecost, or like the mighty avalanche which at once 
buries all opposing obstacles; but softly, gently, grad- 
ually, like the approach of a genial summer after a 
dreary winter, when day by day the buds and blossoms 
put forth, and ere long you reap the fruition of the 
golden harvest ; or, like the quiet repose of slumber, 
when you sleep you shall not know how you came to 
sleep. 

" We do not suppose that there is any material or 
external science which can demonstrate modern Spir- 
itualism. Chemistry and geology fail. Mesmerism, 
psychology, -and clairvoyance, are in themselves so 
mysterious, that we cannot use them for the explanation 
of another mystery. Ask any man who pretends to be- 



130 nature's laws 

lieve in mesmerism, who is a professor of that science, 
if he can demonstrate to you what it is. He can not 
do it ; nor can psychology or clairvoyance be explained. 
They all pertain to mind ; they are of those mysterious 
things which belong to the science of mind ; and no 
system of mental philosophy can explain it to you. 
Mental philosophers treat of the facts when they should 
explain the principles. Those who treat of a man's 
life, treat simply of what he did, how much he ate and 
drank, and what he said, and never of what he thought. 
No biographer can tell you what the man thought — the 
thought of Washington, or Napoleon, or Webster, or 
any great statesman or warrior that has lived. No one 
knows what they thought ; you only record their ac- 
tions, their deeds, their external, physical manifesta- 
tions, which many times are as much at variance with 
the real thoughts of the person as is night with the 
lio'ht of mornin^:. 

"Spirits can not communicate to you positively, and 
beyond the power of contradiction. There is no such 
thing as having anything beyond the power of contra- 
diction, and especially if that thing be a new one, and 
unsanctified by church and state ; if the whole world is 
warring against it, especially if it interferes with reli- 
gious creeds and prejudices, something which shall de- 
stroy old institutions. You know that mankind have 
great affection for old institutions ; it is natural to us 
all. We all revere aged men, not so much for what 
they are — though they may be great even in their sec- 
ond childhood — but we remember what they were : they 
are still kind, still gentle, and will presently pass away. 



IN HUJVIAN LIFE. 131 

It is a reverence for past greatness and for feebleness. 
Now, this is so with institutions. Men nourish and 
cherish them as long as they can, until at last they are 
obliged to give them up. There may be no positive 
standard of thought or demonstration, by which any and 
every person may ascertain if Spiritualism is true. The. 
writings of Andrew Jackson Davis, Professor Hare, 
and Judge Edmonds, being among the most prominent 
spiritual works, are said to be standard woiks among 
spiritualists. They are not so. Spiritualism has no 
standard works. Davis, Edmonds, and Hare, relate 
their own experience. But no two spiritualists can pos- 
sibly have precisely the same experience ; it is as varied 
as is their existence. Your spiritual communications 
are not like Professor Hare's ; your friend, through 
whom you have received the demonstration, may not be 
like his. Consequently, you may not possibly demon- 
strate it as he has done. You can only investigate Spir- 
itualism in your own way, and arrive at such conclu- 
sions as your own reason and judgment shall dictate, 
and solve that which is mysterious, only by a gradual 
and successive chain of thought, just as any scientific 
principles are reasoned out, just as any propositions in 
mathematics, in chemistry, in geology, are demonstra- 
ted ; it must be done by a slow process of education, of 
investigation, of intuition, embodied in an expression of 
external forms." 

From another writer we quote these passages : 
"The ruje, given in scripture, for trying the mediums 
for prophecy, is to look to the accomplishment of the 



132 nature's laws 

prophecies, and not to the age or country in which the 
seers live. *When a prophet speaketh in the name of 
the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that 
is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the 
prophet hath spoken it presumptuously:' (Deut. xviii. 
22.) Swedenborg saw in vision and accurately fore- 
told the precise day of his own decease ; also the very 
hour of the decease of Olof Olofsohn : and the happen- 
ing of many other interesting events. These have 
passed into history. Judged by the rule of the Scrip- 
tures, Swedenborg was a true seer. By this, the speak- 
er does not mean to assert, that he could foresee all 
events, nor that he was free from mistakes. He would 
neither be willing to assert nor to admit that, in relation 
to any of the prophets, whose writings are recorded in 
the Old Testament, He can ascribe omniscience to none 
but God." 

"In our own time, the death of the late Czar Nicholas, 
was foreseen and foretold in this country three months 
before the event. The late war in the Crimea, was 
foreseen and foretold in this country eighteen months 
before its commencement. 'When the Arctic was de- 
stroyed, her disaster was communicated to four differ- 
ent persons, who were unknown to each other, and that, 
at the same instant it occurred, and long before the 
news reached the shore.' The cases of true prophecy 
in this country, within the last eight years, that are 
v/ell authenticated, are quite numerous. Judging by 
the standard of Jewish and Christian Scriptures in the 
light of history, there have been true prophets and seers 
in the different aires and countries of the world, to whom 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 133 

some thino^s of the future have been made known : and 
we have them among us still. 

"This is precisely what we ought to expect. The Di- 
vine law is not changed. The mode of Divine commu- 
nication is not altered. Paul, writing to his Corinthian 
brethren, while giving rules for the perpetual guidance 
of Christians, says : * Follow after charity, and desire 
spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.' 

"We are informed that a Dutch Ambassador told the 
King of Siam, that in his country, in cold weather, the 
water was so hard that it would bear an elephant, if he 
were there. The king replied, * Hitherto I have be- 
believed the strange things you have told me, because I 
looked upon you as a sober, fair man ; but now I am 
sure you lie.' 

"The fact transcended his philosophy. In like manner 
when the wonderful things of the Scriptures were pre- 
sented to the mind of David Hume, they transcended 
his philosophy, and so he rejected them as fabulous. 
He did not stop to consider, that there might be other 
laws of nature with which he was unacquainted, and so 
he rejected the evidence of th-e facts. Under like cir- 
cumstances weak and superstitious minds at once arrive 
at the conclusion, that the laws of God are reversed ; 
that the events are supernatural — miraculous. 

But the true Spiritualist or Christian philosopher will 
receive the facts, if the evidence be amply sufficient to 
prove them. He is aware how little he knows of the 
Divine laws. If he knows of no laws by which such 
phenomena can be produced, he will not infer that the 
universe has got out of order, that the laws of God are 



134 nature's laws 

reversed, nor that the facts occur contrary to those 
laws. He will reasonably suppose that there may 
be, and probably are, other laws, with which he is un- 
acquainted, and patiently wait till he discovers them. 

" The present age of Spiritualism is nothing less than a 
full return to the ancient faith of the Church, and a 
complete revival of the doctrines of Christianity. There 
have been mediums for spiritual intercourse in all, or 
nearly all, the ages of our race. During the gross ma- 
terialism and infidelity of past ages, mediums without 
the pale of the church were persecuted and hung. 
And, in the fierceness of their rage, the infidels of the 
seventeenth century, under the assumed garb of Chris- 
tianity, persecuted unto death by false accusation, many 
who were not mediums at all. Among the ancients, 
aside from the mediums mentioned in the Jewish and 
Christian Scriptures, Socrates stands most prominent. 
He asserted, that for many years he was accompanied 
by a demon, guardian spirit, or angel, who, whenever 
he was tempted to do anything wrong cautioned him 
against it. 

"On the 13th of August, 1800, in the State of Maine, 
a spirit went in company with Mrs. Butler and forty 
seven other persons about half a mile. Rev. Abraham 
Cummings, who was uncle to the late Dr. Asa Cum- 
mings, wrote a history of the appearence of this spirit, 
and published it in 1826. He took and printed the 
testimony of thirty one witnesses, who had seen or con- 
versed with the spirit in the year 1800. Mr. Cummings, 
in his narrative, says : ^ With all these witnesses I am 
intimately acquainted. 1 took these testimonies from 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 135 

their lips, for the most part, separately.' After giving 
the testimony, Mr. Cummings says: *The above 
witnesses are exhibited not for the want of more (for 
more than a hundred liave seen the spectre, or have 
heard her words,) but because repetition is tedious.' 
The testimony, part or all of it, was taken in the year 
1800. One witness, Dorcas Johnson, speaking of the 
manifestation on the 13th of August, says : * There I 
heard and saw the spectre. Her voice was distinct from 
any other, and her music the most delightful that I ever 
heard. When she walked with us she moved without 
stepping. And when we arrived at the house, by di- 
rection of the spectre, given to my brother, James 
Springer, and by him to the company in our hearing, 
we opened to the right and left, so that the spectre and 
Mrs. Butler passed together 'between our ranks. Then 
she vanished from my view, and I saw her no more.' 
The testimony of others is equally explicit. 

Of the distinguished Sweedish seer, concerning whom 
we shall further remark in treating of various religious 
organizations, he says ; 

"Among modern mediums the most prominent of all 
stands Emanuel Swedenborg. He stands prominent 
on account of his eminence and high position as a man 
of learning and science ; also because he was in contact 
or daily intercourse with the spiritual world for twenty 
eight years, and also on account of the mass and value 
of the spiritual communications which he committed to 
writing, amounting to about thirty printed volumes. 
But very few have yet received the doctrines taught by 
or through him, or even read his works. The world 



136 ' natuke's laws 

was so steeped in materialism and infidelity that his doc- 
trines have been generally rejected without examination. 
By self-sufficient and dogmatical persons, he has been 
denounced as an insane man. 

"To say nothing of other countries, in this country 
alone at the present time, the mediums cannot number 
less than one hundred thousand. Among the believers 
are included Judges, Senators, Orators, Clergymen, 
Poets, Mathematicians, Chemists, and Philosophers. 
All these are denounced as insane by the whole hosts of 
infidels. Why should we be supprised at this? When 
Paul gave an account of the spiritual manifestations that 
he witnessed on his way to Damascus, to Festus and 
Agrippa, Festus charged him with insanity. 

"There is no doubt that murderers, drunkards and 
harlots may become mediums for evil spirits, as readily 
as moral men and Christians can become mediums for 
good spirits. Every man, whether in the material or 
spiritual world, is naturally attracted to the society of 
others who are like him. * * David was a polygamist, 
an adulterer, and a murderer. Solomon was a sensual- 
ist, an adulterer, and a polygamist. Does any one deny 
that they were mediums for spiritual intercourse ? Mary 
Magdalene has been by many supposed to have been a 
harlot. She was a medium for spiritual communica- 
tions. Seven evil spirits took possession of her and 
made themselves manifest by communications. Why 
should not evil spirits, or the spirits of evil men do the 
same thing now ? 

The same writer after enumerating many of the phe- 
nomena already cited, says that spirits " can and do, 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 137 

with or without the hands of the medium prick off mu- 
sic unknown to all in the family, and that whether the 
medium is a musician or not ; that they open the spir- 
itual hearing of suitable mediums, and utter spiritual 
words, and make them audible to such mediums, which 
words cannot be heard by others, though present ; that 
they produce the odic or spiritual light, and make it 
manifest to all present ; that they intervene for the cure 
of diseases, and in rare instances produce the human 
voice. 

"The performers, who do these things, claim to be 
the spirits of deceased persons. They identify themselves 
in the most unmistakable manner, by exhibiting their 
spiritual forms to seeing mediums (sometimes many 
mediums seeing the same spiritual form at the same 
time;) by writing their own handwriting; by relating 
facts in their history long since forgotten by all present, 
and other facts that none present ever knew ; by reci- 
tals of poetry, which they were accustomed to repeat, 
when living in the material body, and sometimes by 
taking possession of the medium, and exhibiting in pan- 
tomime the motions and habits of body, to which they 
were accustomed while living here ; and sometimes the 
motions and habits of persons that were insane ; and 
sometimes speaking through the organs of the medium 
in a voice to imitate their own natural voice before 
death. To most of these facts we have millions of liv- 
ing witnesses. We have seen and observed them our- 
selves. To use the words of Jesus, *We speak that we 
do know, and testify that we have seen ; and ye receive 
not our witness.' (John iii. 11.) 



138 natuke's laws 

"Religious teachers ought to know, that practical 
psychology or mesmerism is the actual communion be- 
tween two spirits, while both are in the body, that ordi- 
nary experiments in mesmerism require two parties, a 
subject or medium and an operator ; that the operator 
establishes the spiritual communication by means of his 
will ; and that, consequently, if liis soul and spirit sur- 
vive the process of death, no good reason can be assigned 
why the operator in mesmerism should not retain all 
his mesmeric power, and even find it increased, by 
throwing off his external body. This is what we find 
to be the fact ; and this is the way, in which the phe- 
nomena of spiritualism are produced. 

"But no operator in mesmerism, while in the mate- 
rial body, has been able to produce any of the higher 
phenomena of spiritualism. The operator in mesmer- 
ism, is able to throw his subject or medium into a 
trance ; to control him in most cases at will ; to deceive 
his senses ; to present to him imaginary pictures, and 
induce him to receive them as real. But, so far as we 
can learn, no operator in ordinary mesmerism, from the 
beginning of the world, has ever been able to produce 
a real rap without contact ; to move a table without con- 
tact ; to induce the medium to speak or write in any lan- 
guage which was alike unknown to the medium and the 
operator ; or to conceal present material objects from the 
vision of all others present, while the subject or medium 
is permitted to see them. These and many others of 
the phenomena of Spiritualism are a higher branch of 
the art, which the operator in Mesmerism, cannot pro- 
duce by the power of his will, until after he passes into 
the spiritual world." 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 139 

"The operator in mesmerism, when he is freed from 
his external body, and becomes a free spirit, if he can 
find a medium through whose organization he can free- 
ly work, and upon which he can act as a lever by his 
mesmeric or will power, can produce the raps, move 
the table, and take up the pen and write in the same 
manner as the speaker can, by the power of his will 
through his own organism. He can write through the 
hand of the medium or without it, in any laxiguage 
which he understands in the same manner he formerly 
could through his own bodily organs. He can enter 
into the medium, and expresss himself and speak in 
any language which he understands, provided he has 
perfect control of his subject, in the same manner as 
the speaker can through his own organs. In order to 
obtain spiritual manifestations, it is never necessary to 
have any mesmeric operator present. When such op- 
erators, with a strong will, are present, they have power 
in some degree to counteract the will of a spiritual op- 
erator. But the finest spiritual manifestations are ob- 
tained, when only one, two, or three are present, and 
when all present are mediums. 

"But if all the spiritual manifestations of the present 
day are produced by mesmeric operation in the body, 
then no doubt all those recorded in the Scriptures were 
produced in the same way ; for they appear to be en- 
tirely sunilar. If piano fortes are now taken up from 
the floor by ordinary mesmerism, and without contact, 
then the walls of Jericho were pulled down by the same 
means. If writing without the medium's hand is now 
produced by human magnetism, or ordinary mesmerism. 



140 nature's laws 

then the writing in Belshazzar's palace was produced in 
the same manner. If spiritual hands are all now pro- 
duced by ordinary mesmerism , then the hand seen by 
Belshazzar was produced in the same way. If the ward 
of the lock is thrown back, and the bolted door opened 
by ordinary mesmerism in this age, then Peter was 
brought out of prison by the same means. 

"If the spiritual mediums, in all cases, now see the 
spiritual forms of their deceased friends by ordinary 
magnetism, then all the manifestations of the forms of 
Jesus to his disciples were produced in the same man- 
ner. If spiritual mediums in all cases hear spiritual 
sounds by ordinary mesmerism in these days, then the 
disciples lieard the voice of Jesus after his death in the 
same way. Then we have no reliable evidence that 
Jesus ever rose out of the dead. And so I might say 
of all the spiritual manifestations recorded in the scrip- 
tures. Then is our faith in vain, and Christianity a 
fable. 

"Mesmerism is only one branch of the infinite system 
of spiritualism. Mesmerism is only confined to that in- 
tercourse which may be established between two human 
spirits, while both still reside in their human bodies. 
Spiritualism regards all that intercourse which exists or 
may be established between any two spirits in the Uni- 
verse, whether they are both human spirits or not, 
whether they are both equally elevated, or whether one 
is the Deity, and the other one of the lowest spirits that 
have been organized by his power. Spiritualism ex- 
plains the origin of the doctrine of the transmigration of 
souls ; it shows the mode in which nearly every system 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 141 

of idolatry was introduced into the world ; it is a key to 
unlock all the dark volumes of ancient history and 
mythology, and furnishes a scientific basis for all true 
relio:ion. 



ADDITIONAL FACTS. 

On page 113 and subsequently, mention has been 
made of some remarkable examples of various phases of 
physical mediumship. It was thought sufficient to sat- 
isfy the average of inquirers, if we should devote that 
amount of space to this particular department of mani- 
festations. Inasmuch however, as names have been 
mentioned in connection with that phase of mediumship, 
it may appear invidious if other names, equally promi- 
nent, should be omitted, especially as the facts devel- 
oped through them have excited considerable interest in 
the public mind, and are referred to as an almost indis- 
pensable portion of the evidence which has been brought 
to the attention of the public. We therefore here pre- 
sent some additional items. 

The astonishing manifestations through Mr. Home 
have gained a world-wide fame. According to the pos- 
itive testimony of prominent literary persons in Eng- 
land, only a few months ago, he was removed bodily 
through the window of a room in which the party were 
assembled, into the outer air, and thence into the win- 
dow of another room, at a distance of seventy feet from 
the ground. 



142 nature's laws 

Elongation of the body by several inches is a wonder- 
ful circumstance vouched for by many witnesses. And 
not less remarkable, the drawing of hot coals from the 
fire by the hand, unprotected by interposing material, 
without the ordinary effect of burning. 

The manifestations through the Misses Fox arc 
equally celebrated, having been long known throughout 
the extent of America as the pioneers of the extensive 
and more modern spiritual movement. Commenc- 
ing with the simple form of raps or " knockings " as 
they were called, the members of the family were seri- 
ously annoyed with the noisy demonstrations going on 
in their house independently of their will pov/cr, and in 
spite of it. The manifestations went on through vari- 
ous gradations to some of the higher forms of develop- 
ment. Spirits have shown themselves visibly for years 
past in their presence. While sitting with one of them, 
now Mrs. Underhiil, a lady seated in a chair was taken 
up in our presence without visible contact some distance 
from the floor, and in the light. 

William Fitzgibbon, a lecturer on od force and psy- 
chology, about six years ago engaged the services of the 
various physical mediums who from time to time went 
to Brooklyn N. Y. ; among whom were Miss Jennie 
Lord, the Eddy family, and Mrs. Ferris. These were 
all at his residence at one time. The manifestations 
were so powerful that Mr. F., v/ho had given offence 
to the spirits, was obliged to seek the protection of the 
company in the room. He was a man of positive will, 
and if he could not have his demand complied with, 
would swear at them. The result was they became an- 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 143 

gry, which was manifested to such an extent that it was 
feared they would damage the house. They broke loose 
the chandelier as he was passing under it, and struck 
him on the head with such force as to cut a large gash. 
He became so much alarmed that he dared not get into 
the cabinet which was used for the exhibition of their 
power. At one time while he was in the cabinet they 
took off his boots and struck him repeatedly and se- 
verely with them on the head. Others who got into the 
cabinet at the time were not treated roughly, showing 
discrimination in the treatment of friends and enemies, 
and sufficient self-respect to protect themselves against 
abuse. A company of persons about ten in number, 
residing in New York, hearing of the powerful demon- 
strations which had been made, went to the house and 
remained until past midnight. By agreement the me- 
diums were sent into the uppermost story of the house, 
and the company commenced an examination of the en- 
tire premises, taking the cellar first, and ascending flight 
by flight to the top. They fastened the windows in 
each apartment first, then locked the doors and took the 
keys with them. Each one had a lighted taper. On 
reaching the upper part of the house they extinguished 
their lights and were in total darkness. No sooner was 
this done than there came the sound of slamming doors, 
the opening and shutting of which could be heard by 
all. Lights were again procured and the doors exam- 
ined. All were found fastened as when they had left 
them. The lights were again extinguished, and imme- 
diately a loud concussion was heard like the firing of a 
cannon, which shook the house. Lights were again 



144 natuke's laws 

struck, and all the doors found fast as before. There 
was no possibility of deception. 

The manifestations produced through the brothers 
Davenport, and through Mr. William Fay who travels 
with them, are genuine and of an astounding character. 

Strange occurrences took place through the person of 
Mr. Dyer in the south east part of Philadelphia, at the 
residence of his son-in-law. Mr. D. was an aged man, 
and was taken care of by an unmarried daughter. 
About twenty years before his exit from this world he 
was holding a conversation with his brother upon bible 
questions, both being of the Methodist persuasion. 
The gifts were spoken of, and Mr. D. said he desired 
to have the gift of seeing in retrospect the lives of those 
who came into his presence. His desire was gratified, 
and he became obliged to tell persons of their faults, 
when he met them. This continued so persistently that 
it became offensive to him, and he at length said, "I 
remember the very time and place when I made that re- 
quest. Now I have got more than I desired, and wish 
the gift could be removed from me." At that hour he 
was taken sick, and thenceforeward was unable to work. 
His body become distorted, the spine assuming a curve 
like the letter S, from which he never recovered. 
Subsequently he said "I am satisfied that if I had not 
found fault with the gift, and it had remained with me, 
I should never have suiiered as I have for fifteen years." 
A few years before his departure to spirit life bells were 
rung in the house without hands, similar to the occur- 
rences at Dr. Phelps' residence. The servants while it 
their domestic work were disturbed. When making 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 145 

bread, the tray would be pulled out of their hands, and 
food in the cellar would be placed in each corner. The 
ffirls ":ot frig^htened and left. A bell hanjxer was em- 
ployed to replace the broken wires. The family were 
alarmed and sent for the son-in-law, who was travelling 
in the West on business, to return. The damage done 
to the property amounted to three hundred dollars. 

One morning the old gentleman called his daughter 
to him, and said that they should not be troubled any 
more, as he had prayed all night, and a voice had come 
to him saying that from that time the disturbances would 
cease. They did cease. 

Mr. D. felt confident that these disturbances were 
caused by unruly spii-its. The gift of psychometry 
came back to him at one time. Once a young minis - 
ister called upon him, feeling it his duty to converse 
with him about his renunciation of methodistic doctrines. 
The minister requested permission to pray, which was 
assented to. After rising from his knees, tlie old 
gentleman took his visitor by the hand, saying "I have 
a little advice to give you. You have a secret vice, 
which, if you do not refrain from will be the means of 
seriously injuring your health." The young man 
blushed, and left, and although invited, never called up- 
on the venerable brother a2:ain. 

The wonderful manifestations which occurred at the 
house of Rev. Dr. Phelps at Stratford, Conn., some 
years ago, created considerable excitement in the pub- 
lic mind, which was embarrassing and annoying to the 
reverend gentleman and his family. One fact is ob- 
servable m the history of the manifestations there ; the 



146 nature's laws 

doctor was never, so far as we are aware, charged with 
imposture in connection with them. Doubtless he felt, 
in common with those who have had to be the victims 
of suspicion, the disagreeable position in which he was 
placed, in consequence of that general suspicion. He 
challenged the strictest investigation, even to the extent 
of offering his house and all that it contained, to any 
one who could detect a natural cause for the disturban- 
ces. He thus wrote in relation to them, "I have seen 
things in motion more than a thousand times, and in 
most cases when no visible power existed by which the 
motion could be produced. There have been broken 
from my windows seventy one panes of glass, more than 
thirty of which I have seen break with my own eyes. 
I have seen objects such as brushes, tumblers, candle- 
sticks, snuffers, etc., which but a few minutes before I 
knew to be at rest, fly against the glass and dash it to 
pieces, when it was utterly impossible from the direc- 
tion in which they moved, that any visible power should 
have caused the motion. As to the reality of these 
facts, they can be proved by testimony a hundred fold 
greater than is ordinarily required in our Courts of Jus- 
tice, in cases of life and death." Dr. P's property was 
destroyed to the amount of thousands of dollars by the 
violence of these physical demonstrations. Vast num- 
bers of persons from Bridgeport and adjoining towns 
visited the scene, and became eye-witness of the repeti- 
tion of the strange occurrences. 

It must be remembered that the religious denomina- 
tional duties of Dr. P. led him in a direction entirely 
opposite to the encouragement of such things, or their 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 147 

acceptance, or even the acknowledgment of their truth 
when they cannot be prevented. Yet with these facts 
occurring in this family is it not remarkable that the 
son, now a Professor in the Theological Seminary at 
Andover should make an open attack upon Spiritualism, 
attributing all its manifestations, as have been seen in 
the first division of this book, to Satanic agency? Its 
lessons have, however, not been altogether lost, inas- 
nmch as their effect is seen in the spiritualistic tone of 
"Gates Ajar" and ''Hedged In," books from the pen of 
the Professor's accomplished and spiritually minded 
daughter. 

More recently, the events at the house of the Cashier 
of the Fitchburg Bank were of a startling character, 
among which was the moving of large soap stone slabs, 
without physicpJ contact, an account of which was pub- 
lished in the Atlantic Monthly for August 1868. Per- 
sons of scientific acquirements were called in to witness 
them, and the contributor of the article very candidly 
urged upon persons of such pretensions, to give the sub- 
ject an investigation. 

Dr. Henry Slade of New York, and Peter West are 
also mediums through whom remarkable phenomena 
have been developed, as great numbers can testify. A 
slate is written upon without the physical contact of 
human hands. We have sat in the light with some ten 
other persons, when the slate has been held up by the 
medium above his head, with a small piece of pencil 
upon it, so short that it could not be grasped by a man's 
fingers, and verses and communications would be writ- 
ten all over the slate, there being no possible opportu- 



148 - nature's laws 

nity of deception. This has also been done upon and 
under the table. The hand writing was sometimes so 
delicate as to be far beyond the chirographic skill of the 
mediums. 

The facts concerning the cabinet manifestations of the 
Eddy family, concerning the mediumship of Mr. Reed, 
the physical occurrences through Mrs. Ferris, aud those 
which have been seen in the presence of the Bangs fam- 
ily, Mrs. Maud Lord, Mrs. Cutter and the Walker 
family, are indeed marvellous, but we should occupy 
too much space to enumerate them in detail. 

A spirit hand has taken our memorandum book and 
watch from our pocket — \ye say spirit hand, because it 
was impossible at the time, and in the place where it 
occurred for it to have been accomplished by the hand 
of any person in the flesh. The touch was different 
from the tangible feel of fleshly hands. 

Before concluding this account of the varied physical 
manifestations, it is in a measure necessary to mention 
the astounding events which have occurred at Moravia 
in the state of N. Y. Many visitors were attracted 
there at the beginning, and others have followed, from 
an anxious desire to know the facts for themselves, 
down to the present time. Among these are parties 
well known in literary and scientific circles. We sub- 
join a statement from Mr. William White of Boston. 
The most candid statement written by an unbeliever is 
the report of a correspondent of the N. Y. Sun, to which 
reference may be made. 

Mr. Bigelow of Boston recognized Mr. Tufts, his 
father-in-law. Mrs. H. F. M. Brown and many others 



m HUMAN LIFE. > 149 

recognized their friends, who gave them the most sat- 
isfactory tests. 

The mode of manifestation being given in the passa- 
ges quoted from Mr. White, we need not anticipate it. 
These phenomena have been promised, and there can be 
no doubt that more of the same evidence will be given, 
realizing the long cherished hope of anxious friends. 

Mr. White of the Banner, writes " At one seance, a 
small hand patted Dr. Storer upon the knee, and a voice, 
in a low whisper, called, 'Father, father,' and gave the 
full name of his little son, who has been in spirit-life 
fourteen years. A voice, evidently that of a man, sa- 
luted us as 'Bro. White,' in a loud whisper — the value 
of both these incidents being enhanced by the fact that 
our names had been carefully kept from the knowledge 
of the medium. 

"In the second part of the seance, the lamp being lit 
and the medium shut into the cabinet, faces appeared at 
the square aperture in the partition, and in two instan- 
ces out of the fifteen or twenty which we saw, we were 
both simultaneously impressed with the resemblance of 
faces to those of persons whom we knew. One was of 
dark complexion, full beard and mustache, and certain- 
ly looked like Charles H. Crowell, late associated with 
us in this office. He did not speak, but made several 
efforts to present his features at difierent angles, and 
when asked if we were correct in our recognition, bowed 
an affirmative. The other was a venerable countenance, 
presenting hairof the whiteness of wool, the white beard 
trimmed short, and the features sufficiently distinct in 
color and outline to suggest the honored name and 



150 nature's laws 

presence of the truly revered John Pierpont. He, too, 
responded in the affirmative, when his name w^as sug- 
gested, but it seemed impossible for him to remain long 
enough at the aperture to make the recognition positive 
and beyond doubt. Our anxiety to accomplish this, 
seeming to thwart the conditions, Mr. Keeler suggested 
that something lively should be played on the piano — 
perhaps some dancing tune — when a voice, appearing 
to proceed from the dimly-seen form within the cabinet, 
and apparently about a foot from the window, uttered 
a remonstrance in low but firm and distinct tones : ' No, 
my friends, those tunes will call around you spirits of 
a lower class. This is a serious subject.' Hands were 
frequently seen, in two instances holding out well formed 
flowers. Quite a lengthy talk was addressed to us, 
purporting to come from Dr. Baker, formerly of Owas- 
co, who is a frequent participator in these circles. He 
it was who, through the trumpet, stated that he could 
promise us, from positive knowledge, that manifes- 
tations similar to the present would become general all 
over the world." 

A few further facts concerning spirit likenesses are 
subjoined : 

"Some months ago, jMr. J. E. Warner, a photo- 
grapher, of Fall River, was called by some parties who 
lived in Cherry street to take some pictures of a deceased 
child. The latter was placed in a chair, and over it 
was arranged an arch of roses, with one sprig hanging 
down from the centre. As w^e are informed by one 
who declared himself an eye-witness, several pictures 



m HUMAN LIFE. 151 

were taken ; and in the sixth, partly obscuring the pen- 
dant sprig, appeared, clearly defined, the face of the 
child's mother, who has been dead several years. The 
statement comes with the assurance that there was no 
chicanery in the matter ; and it is said the case, well 
authenticated, has created considerable local excite- 
ment." 

George S. Shaw says ; "Last Sunday I was called 
out to take a picture of a deceased child. I made five 
pictures, and in the fifth appeared the shape of a face 
just above the child's head. There was a wreath of ro- 
ses and leaves over the child's head, and the face seemed 
to be looking out from the leaves down at the child. 
It has created considerable excitement here. The child's 
mother died last winter, and people that were acquain- 
ted with her say that it is her face." 

The Orleans American, printed in Albion, N. Y., 
publishes the following statement in its issue of June 
22: 1871. 

"I had a daughter born in England, and died there 
in 1844, at the age of fifteen, and Mr. Milleson, of 
New York, now stopping at South Barre, New York, 
a spirit-artist for the departed, has drawn a life-like pic- 
ture of said daughter, and presented it to me without my 
knowing it was to be done, and without any knowledge 
on his part that I ever had such a daughter. I am sure 
it is a true likeness of my child. Hannah Cot well." 

The beautiful crayon drawing of the Spirit Bride 
executed in the highest style of art, ornamenting the 
wall in the rear of the platform in the Banner Free 
Circle Room is worthy of mention. It was drawn by 



152 nature's laws 

Mr. E. Howard Doane, while under perfect control of 
the spirits, and would do honor to the pencil of the 
most famous. 

If it is true that photographic likenesses can be pro- 
jected upon a metallic or glass plate, is there any diffi- 
culty in believing that Jesus was able to show himself 
to Mary Madgalene and some of his disciples ? 

Jesus doubtless understood the law involved in the 
transfiguration, and the danger attending it, when as in 
John XX. 17, he appeared to Mary and said " Touch me 
not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father ; but go to 
my brethren and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father 
and your Father, and to my God and your God." This 
indicates that he did not claim for himself what the 
Christian theologians claim for him. 

Its probable effect upon the medium is explained by 
the extreme sensitiveness which is often observed when 
under^ control. Plealth and life itself is sometimes 
endangered by sudden interruptions, in so apparently 
unimportant a circumstance as another person entering 
the room at such a time. The precipitation of instru- 
ments when floating about in the atmosphere on a light 
being suddenly kindled, as already mentioned, is anoth- 
er example of the folly of destroying suitable condi- 
tions. 

Last autumn manifestations were reported to have 
occurred in Plymouth Church through the mediumship 
of one of the lady reporters. — " one of two or three la- 
dies who sit at a table in front of the platform at Mr. 
Beecher's church, and take notes of his sermons for the 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 153 

Monday morning papers. For several Sundays past 
the influence has accompanied her to the church, and 
has manifested itself by shaking the table, slightly tip- 
ping it, confusing the 'copy,' and, altogether, giving 
the lady who reports for the New York Herald and the 
other fair reporters spasms of fright, lest the manifesta- 
tions should become palpable to the congregation." 



SPmiTUALISM AT THE METHODIST CAMP MEETINGS. 

The folio win 2: facts were communicated to the Ban- 
ner concerning the Hamilton Camp Meeting from a 
gentleman who was an eye witness of what he related. 

"Among those attending on the day of his visit, it 
was the lot of our friend to encounter several who, 
though church members, were also chosen instruments 
for the exhibition of spirit power. One lady who had 
a cottage on the ground, and whose husband had re- 
cently passed on, said to him that last year her husband 
was with her in the form, and that she knew he was 
with her in spirit at this camp meeting, for he demon- 
strated his presence to her the first night she came there. 
She had told her minister of the fact. 

"Another lady to whom he was introduced, said, 
*you have two spirits near you,' and proceeded to give 
their names correctly, thus proving the identity of those 
gone before who were present. He also saw a well de- 
fined case of spirit healing. The harmony among those 
present was deep and abiding. All had met for one 
purpose — the saving ( ?) of souls ; no other issue was 



154 nature's laws 

to be discussed — no opposition allowed — therefore the 
facilities for spirit control among those susceptible, were 
excellent. But one speaker for each service was al- 
lowed, all the rest being occupied in forming a circle — 
whereunto all were called to assemble — around the 
speaker's stand. Here sinners were exhorted to come 
forward for their own sakes, or those desiring prayers 
for others in whom they were interested, and all was 
done to create passivity and readiness to receive — con- 
ditions which the Spiritualist understands to be so nec- 
essary for successful manifestations or for healing pur- 
poses. To the mind of the visitor it was rather amus- 
ing to hear the frantic pleadings of those officiating for 
sinners to come forward, when at the same time it was 
stated : * We are all miserable sinners.' As for the re- 
sults of these Methodist circles, one case copied from 
the Boston Herald's report of the meeting on the day 
when our informant attended, will give a good idea : 

"'At the prayer-meeting immediately following one 
of the sermons on Wednesday, Aug. 23d, there was a 
peculiar manifestation, formerly of more frequent oc- 
currence than of late years. A man, while kneeling at 
the altar, was held for over an hour in a trance, appar- 
ently cognizant of all that was going on around him, 
but utterly incapable of movement. To many it was a 
convincing proof that God was present in power, while 
others regarded it with feelings of curiosity and misbe- 
lief. Whatever was the nature of the 'trance,' the man 
caused considerable excitement for a while, a large 
crowd pressing around to get a glimpse of the subject.' 

"If this 'trance' indeed showed the presence of God 



m HUMAN LIFE. 155 

or the ^Holy Ghost,' it v/as strange that so much fear 
about the matter should have existed, and such profuse 
efforts have been put forth to ^rub out' the good they 
have done by all their prayers and exhortations — severe 
and continued chafing of his person having been made 
use of before the man returned to a normal condition. 
Our informant is of the opinion that any spiritual healer 
could have brought the man oat of the trance in less 
than ^Ye minutes. He has known of several cases of 
insanity which were caused by such strong psychologi- 
cal influence as this being thrown upon a subject, and 
no one being near who janderstood how to throw it off. 
Many cases which would have proved fatal to the mind 
of the sufferer, have been cured by the exercise of power 
sufficient to break the spell, by some person acquainted 
with the law of conditions. Detriment from the use of 
this power arises chiefly from ignorance of the laws 
governing it. Spiritualists in their treatment of this 
power, ascribe it to the laws of Nature, and not to any 
favorable conditions arisins^ from their ^conversion' to 
or acceptance of any particular religious faith. The 
exhibitions of its existence are in no wise dependent 
upon the moral character of the person influenced. 

"Not long since, an old gentleman, we are informed, 
was * converted' in the town of Hampton, N. H., and 
was very anxious that a neighbor of his should also ex- 
perience religion. While praying for the above object 
in a 'circle' as above described, he suddenly sprang 
over four seats, and seizing his unrepentant friend, 
commenced pounding him vigorously, accompanying 
his fiafrellations with exclamations like the followino: : 



156 nature's laws 



*You old sinner, you ought to have been converted 
years ago.' His victim was released from his grasp, 
and he sent to the insane asylum, where he died, a rav- 
ing maniac, in eight days, and the revival was broken 
up." 

In continuance of this subject we would refer to the 
files of the Troy (N. Y.) Daily Whig, for July wherein 
is contained an account under the caption of '' The jM"a- 
tional Camp Meeting at Round Lake," the sub-heads 
of which are : " Wonderful Experiences " — " People 
Going to Another World"— "What They See There" 
—"How They Are Eeceived"-^"Trances"—" Visions," 
etc. The whole article, (two columns long) which was 
written in a liberal spirit of criticism, abounds in such 
statements as these : 

"The ground all day has resounded with songs and 
shouts and vigorous lamentations. People fall over 
at the meetings, and are stilled by a trance influence for 
hours. At the services Sunday evening. Miss Laura 
Seward, of New York City, was overcome, and fell into 
a trance and remained in that condition until morning. 
Hardly had she recovered, when she was up again 
seized with the influence and fell back upon the floor. 
A large crowd of people gathered about the tent to view 
the statuesque form of the unconscious lady * * * Up- 
on coming to consciousness a second time, she related a 
wonderful experience. 

"Of course, as all messages coming through a medi- 
um are (like light) colored by the channel through 
which they flow, so the revelations of the Methodist 
brethren and sisters are clothed in the garb of scriptural 



m HUMAN LIFE. 157 

language and imagery — or ignorance, as the case may 
be — even to the assertion of one good brother that the 
streets that are slippery with gold, the harps that are 
of the unalloyed metal, and the gowns that are of the 
costliest fabrics will not be for the ones who indulge in 
croquet. 

"A few Spiritualist media, who understand the pow- 
ers of control so lavishly put forth at these camps, would 
have no trouble — if they were allowed — in showing to 
the partially developed subjects of the Methodist pray- 
ing circles, that the power which wrought in Jesus and 
his disciples in the dusty highways of Palestine, lives 
and works to-day, for the enfranchisment and elevation 
of the whole human race." 



PRESENTIMENT— DREAMING— PROPHECY. 

We do not propose to treat of the topics in this sub- 
division in a philosophical way, but to classify under it 
a series of facts bearing upon the general subjects, and 
to content ourselves with the narration ; simply inter- 
spersing such comments as may suggest themselves. 

PRESENTIMENT. 

" This word — which Webster defines as ' an anteced- 
ent impression or conviction of something unpleasant 
or distressing' — is beginning to figure largely in the 
press of to-day. Hardly can a paper be taken up, no 



158 nature's laws 

matter from what section of the country it may emanate , 
which does not give in its columns 'local' or 'miscella- 
neous' articles headed like the following:: 'Stran^re 
presentiment' 'singular fulfilment of a presentiment/ 
etc., etc. Though in past years these 'shadows' have 
been sometimes 'cast before' upon the minds of those 
receptive enough to detect them, yet it has been re- 
served for the civilizing influences of the present age to 
offer to the spirit-world the faculty of impressibility in 
a fuller and broader sense than before. It is indeed 
doubtful if among the victims of any recent accident of 
any magnitude, there has not been some individual 
strongly impressed with a sense of his impending doom. 
At least such seems the case, judging from the number- 
less paragraphed assurances of the fact which we per- 
ceive soon after duly vouched for by ' one of our most 
respectable citizens.' 

" Not long since, the Boston Herald published an 
account of the death at his post of James Percival, 
brakeman on the Maine Central train which went through 
a broken bridge. A week previous he said to one of 
the employes on the train that 'they would not run to- 
gether much longer, ' and even specified the nature of 
the accident whereby he should meet his death ; which 
forecasting, subsequent events proved correct. 

" An Eastern exchange alluding to a recent accident 
at a neighboring saw-mill — in Damariscotta — whereby 
one of the operatives lost his life, says that a sister of 
his, employed in a cotton-mill at Augusta, on the day 
previous became strongly impressed with the certainty 
that her brother was about to meet a violent death, and 



IN HUMAN LIFE. ^^ 159 

was so affected that she left the factory and continued 
in an ahnost distracted state of mind throughout the 
night. The next day a messenger drove up to bring the 
tidings of his death. The young lady saw him approach- 
ing, and recognizing him as one of her neighbors in 
Damariscotta, anticipated his sad message by exclaim- 
ing 'He is dead.' 

" Still another instance comes to our knowledge in 
the case of Frank St Clair, a carpenter by trade — now 
lying a cripple at the Naval Hospital, Chelsea. This 
person, a native of Boston, enlisted in the navy during 
February last, was attached to the receiving ship, and 
from her drafted as fireman on board U. S. steamer 
' Worcester,' bound to France with provisions for the 
suffering people. As soon as he heard that he was to 
go on that ship, he was strongly impressed that some- 
thing disastrous was about to happen to her, and he 
made every effort to obtain his discharge, or at least 
become attached to some other vessel. Not succeedins:, 
he was obliged to put to sea, and while passing Deer 
Island, he is represented as having told a fellow-fire- 
man that something would certainly happen to them, 
and he would gladly leave the ship and go on shore 
among the convicts, so deep was his despondency. A 
few days afterward the bursting of a boiler on board 
killed several persons, and badly scalded others, among 
them Mr. St. Clair, who was so severely injured that it 
is doubtful if he ever regains the use of his hands. 

"The mass of mankind will in time learn the impor- 
tance of heeding these impressions, indices as they are 
upon the barometer of the spiritual being, of the com- 



160 

ing cyclone of disaster. Till then, the lesson must be 
repeated over and over again." 

A Philadelphia paper vouches for the truth of the 
follovs^ing story : 

A few months ago a gentleman died, leaving a con- 
siderable fortune to be shared among his heirs. Dur- 
ing life the deceased had been on the most intmiate 
terms with a friend, w^hose interest in him and his fam- 
ily was not of such a character as to be severed by the 
hand of death. It had been the general understanding 
for several years that this friend had been designated in 
the will of the deceased as his executor. The subject 
had frequently been broached between them, and inva- 
riably the deceased had asserted that he had made a 
will, disposing of his property in a way in which he de- 
sired it to be distributed, and that his friend had been 
named in the document as his executor. 

When, however, a search was made for the will, no 
traces of it could be found. Every nook and corner of 
the house into which such document would be likely to 
creep, was peered into with the same unsuccessful re- 
sult. In this state of the case, by the general desire of 
the relatives of the deceased, his friend took out letters 
of administration, and proceeded to wind up the affairs 
of the estate in the way provided for by the law in cases 
where persons die intestate. The house in which the 
deceased had lived was repaired, and put in such order 
as to render the widow and her children comfortable, 
and other important measures were taken by the admin- 
istrator at his discretion. 



IN HUIMAN LIFE. 161 

Meanwhile, the search for the missing will contin- 
ued, under the belief that it would yet be found, since 
the deceased had so frequently declared that he had pre- 
pared such a document. The administrator, engrossed 
with the cares of the estate, naturally devoted much 
thought to it during his unemployed moments, the sub- 
ject of the missing will, on such occasions, always com- 
ing uppermost m his mind. One night, not long since, 
it engaged his sleeping as well as his waking hours. 
The semblance of his dead friend entered his bed cham- 
ber, and accosted him in the familiar tones. 

"You are spending a great deal of money on my 
house," exclaimed the spectre. 

"Yes, but not more than I would on my own house 
under similar circumstances," was the response ; the 
dreamer actually rising up in bed at sight of his spec- 
tral visitor. 

" You are spending a great deal more of my money 
than I ever did for such a purpose," continued the spec- 
tre, with a touch of rebuke in his ghostly voice. 

"Not more than the case demands," was the rejoinder. 
"You are a dead man now, and have nothing to do with 
the business. It's my affair, and I shall do as I think 
proper." 

The dreamer, as well as the visitor, was getting 
slightly warmed as the dispute progressed. 

"I am come to tell you that you have not thoroughly 
searched for my will," rejoined the spectre. "In it you 
will find just what I wish done with my money." 

"Your will!" laughed the dreamer. "We have 
searched high and low for it, and it can't be found. 



162 nature's laws 

Why did you hide it away if you wished us to follow 
its instructions ? " 

"Look you!" cried the spectre, slipping up to the 
bedside and resting his ghostly form upon the covering ; 
"your search for the will has been very careless. In 
the fourth story back room of my house you will find 
an old bureau. Have you looked into it?" 

"No," responded the dreamer; "I have seen no such 
bureau." 

"In the top drawer of this old bureau," continued the 
spectre, "there is a package of old letters. Open the 
bundle ; the will is in the middle of it." 

With that the spectre bent forward, as if to touch the 
dreamer, who sprang in terror from the bed, and was 
awakened by the shock, to find himself standing in the 
middle of the room. 

On the following day the administrator related his 
vision to the members of his family, and again at his 
place of business he ran over the occurrence, but gave 
it no serious thouo^ht for a moment. In the eveninor he 
called upon the widow on a matter of business, and 
after that was transacted, related to her his singular 
dream of the preceding night. 

"I had forgotten all about it," said the widow ; "but 
there is an old bureau in the lumber room up in the 
garret. But my husband would not have placed any- 
thing of value there for safe-keeping." 

This ended the conversation, and the administrator 
journeyed homeward. He had just thrown himself in 
his easy chair before the fire, in slippers and dressing 
gown, when there came a violent pulling at the door 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 163 

bell. In another moment the widow was ushered into 
the parlor. She was laboring under considerable ex- 
citement, and held a folded paper in her hand. 

"Here is the missing wdll !" she exclaimed, thrusting 
the lonjT-soui2:ht document into the hands of her aston- 
ished friend. 

" Where did you find it ? " he inquired. 

"Just where my husband told you he had placed it, 
in your dream last night. I ran up stairs as soon as 
you left the house, and I found the package of old let- 
ters in the top drawer of the bureau, and there was the 
will, right in the middle of it ! " 

Such is the singular vision and its strict fulfilment. 
We have told " a plain, unvarnished tale," without es- 
sential omissions, and without any fanciful embellish- 
ments, the only thing to be added is the fact that the 
administrator knew nothing of the existence of this old 
bureau until the widow recalled to mind that there was 
such an article of furniture in the house ; and that he 
was the first time made aware that there was in the 
house a bundle of old letters which he had not examined, 
when the missing will was placed in his hands. 



We clip the following important statement from the 
Wakefield (Mass.) Banner of Oct. 28th, 1871 : 

Mr. Editor — Permit me to lay before your readers a 
true statement of ^ the dream or presentiment, or what- 
ever it was,' that warned us of the fire which occurred 
at the Eaton place. About three o'clock that morning 
I was awakened by my spirit friends, as I often am. I 



164 nature's laws 

arose, lighted my lamp, walked about my room and went 
back to bed. I was wide awake. I put out the lamp. 
A voice spoke to me and said, 'Mark now an entirely 
new influence that comes to you.' Soon I saw, or rath- 
er experienced a vision. I was in the midst of a fire, 
in Ti^hich one man seemed to be prominent. All the 
accompaniments were there — the noise, confusion, 
smoke, etc. When I came to a normal state, I at once 
distinctly recognized the vision as given by my spirit 
friends, but thought it was to show me their power in 
displaying the scenes at Chicago. I lay there thinking 
about it when I heard the word 'futile' spoken. I did 
not then know its purport ; but soon another vision 
opened before me. I caught the words 'famine' and 
'shelter,' and knew that an effort was being made to 
impress me with the condition of the people of Chicago. 
This vision faded away without producing any of the 
eifects of a reality. The voice spoke again : 'This vis- 
ion fails to you; it is the only way we can teach you.' 
After awhile I fell partly asleep, and was awakened by 
an unpleasant dream. Immediately they spoke to me 
and said, ' Get right out of bed and don't light the lamp.' 
I started to obey, and felt a strong impulse to go down 
stairs in the dark. A second thought, and I lighted the 
lamp and lay there wondering, and a little vexed that 
my spirit friends should allow me to be so disturbed. 
In about ten minutes, I heard a cracking noise like 
pine wood burning. I spoke to my husband, and he 
found, on going down stairs, the closet in flames. This 
account illustrates some of the means that our loved 
ones on the other shore use, to show us their con- 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 16,5 

tant love and care. [This communication written with 
such evident candor and particularity of detail is signed 
Sarah K. Hart.] 

Scribner's Monthly for Nov. 1871 contains a thrilling 
account of terrible suffering endured by Mr. Truman C. 
Evarts, the contributor of the article, while on an explor- 
ing expedition to the source of the Yellowstone River in 
August previous. After wandering in the wild passes 
of the Rocky Mountains, for thirty seven days he was 
finally rescued by a spirit guide, and returned to civili- 
zation in a half- starved condition. The following par- 
agraphs are extracted from the publication above named. 

" While I was thus considering whether to remain 
and search for a passage" [z.e., over the Madison range 
of mountains, into the valley beyond, where he hoped 
to find settlers,] "or return to the Yellowstone, I ex- 
perienced one of those strange hallucinations which 
many of my friends have misnamed insanity, but which 
to me was Providence. An old clerical frieud, for 
whose character and counsel I had always cherished a 
peculiar regard, in some unaccountable manner seemed 
to be standing before me, charged with advice which 
would relieve my perplexity. I seemed to hear him 
say, as if in a voice and with the manner of author- 

'Go back immediately, as rapidly as your strength 
will permit. There is no food here, and the idea of 
your scaling these rocks is madness.' 

* Doctor,' I rejoined, 'the distance is too great. I 
cannot live to travel it.' 



166 nature's laws 

' Say not so. Your life depends upon the effort. 
Return at once. Start now, lest your resolution falter. 
Travel as far and as fast as possible — it is your only 
chance.' 

'Doctor, I am rejoiced to meet you in this hour of 
distress, but doubt the wisdom of your council. lam 
within seventy miles of Virginia. Just over these 
rocks, a few miles away, I shall find friends. My shoes 
are nearly worn out, my clothes are in tatters, and my 
strength is almost overcome. As a last trial, it seems 
to me I can but attempt to scale this mountain or perish 
in the effort, if God so wills.' 

' Don't think of it. Your power of endurance will 
carry you through. I will accompany you. Put your 
trust in heaven. Help yourself, and God will help 
you.' 

Overcome by these and other persuasions, and de- 
lighted with the idea of having a travelling companion, 
I plodded my way over the route I had come. * * * 
When I resumed my journey the next day the sun was 
just rising. Whenever I was disposed, as was often 
the case, to question the wisdom of the change of routes, 
my old friend appeared to be near with words of en- 
couragement, but his reticence on other subjects both 
surprised and annoyed me." 

At last, becoming completely worn out with fa- 
tigue and hunger, the conviction that death was near 
took possession of his mind. He continues : 

"Once only the thought flashed across my mind that 
I should be saved, and I seemed to hear a whispered 
command to 'Struggle on.' Groping along the side 



11^ HUINIAN LIFE. 167 

of a hill, I became suddenly sensible of a sharp reflec- 
tion, as of burnished steel. Looking up through half- 
eyes, two rough but kindly faces met my gaze." 

These were two mountaineers who had been sent out 
to search for the lost man, and he was rescued at last, 
at the very extreme of exhaustion. 



DETECTION OF CBIME. 

The cases last narrated illustrate firm impressions 
made upon the mind both in presentiment and dreams. 
It is sometimes difficult to distino^uish the one from the 
other. The following facts were developed through 
clairvoyance, and are derived from the same agency, al- 
though differing in its modus operandi from the others. 

Some twelve years ago a young man left the town of 
H — , Vt., for the West, with the intention of makin^ 
it his home. After selecting a farm he returned East 
for the funds necessary for its purchase — some fourteen 
hundred dollars. On his way back he made use of the 
railroad cars and stage coaches as far as public convey- 
ance would carry him, and then was obliged to take 
private conveyance, or travel on foot to the location se- 
k-'^ted. He promised to write to his brother, who was 
left at home, as soon as he arrived, but that relative 
not hearing from him at the expiration of three weeks, 
became anxious as to his safety, and yielding to the de- 
sires of some of the friends, visited a person in the town 
who possessed the gift of "clear seeing, "to consult 
with her as to the fate of his missiirj: brother. This 



168 nature's laws 

lady, who was a member of the Methodist church and 
did not believe in Spiritualism, notwithstanding her 
mediumship, became unconsciously entranced, and while 
in that state described the road as far as the cars and 
coach went, and then pictured the absent brother's tak- 
ing passage in a wagon with three other persons, and 
the nature of the route, which was somewhat aside from 
the regular roads through a piece of woods. She said 
they killed him about the centre of the two mile journey 
through these woods, and threw his body between two 
fallen hemlock trees, and that a lock of his hair was 
now frozen into the ice where the body lay over one 
night. She said next day his body was thrown into a 
pond near by. 

The remaining brother was so well satisfied in his 
mind as to th^ truth of something very serious having 
happened, that he "determined to make the journey of 
some twelve hundred miles to ascertain the full nature 
of what had taken place. On arriving, he found every- 
thing as had been described. At the end of the public 
conveyance he hired a man to take him to the spot, and 
to his astonishment found the lock of his brother's hair 
as before mentioned. Having secured it, he went to 
look for the pond, and found its bottom to be covered 
with deep mud, in which it was impossible to reach the 
body. So perfect, however, was the description given 
him by the clairvoyant of the parties who wrought the 
deed, that he recognized the men as soon as he saw 
them. On his complaint they were arrested, and one 
of their number turning State's evidence, they were 
convicted, and sentenced to State Prison for life for 



IN HU3IAN LIFE. 169 

the crime. One of the men has since died ; the other 
still remains in prison. 

The brother of the murdered man, the lady and many- 
others acquainted with the facts, are still living witnes- 
ses to the truth of clairvoyance, in which they firmly 
believe. I am acquainted with the lady. Gaining a 
knowledge of these facts some time since, 1 thought they 
should be made public, as additional proofs with which 
to convince the minds of the skeptical. Here was a 
revelation made by a person who did not believe in 
Spiritualism, to parties mostly Methodists. 

Another case almost as wonderful as the above oc- 
curred nearly at the same time : A robbery was commit- 
ted in a small village in the vicinity, and it was thought 
advisable to send for this medium and see if she could 
not detect the thief. She obeyed the summons, and 
was placed in a room in the hotel whither by common 
consent all the people came and passed before her, each 
taking her hand, that she might find the guilty one ; 
and at last one person, w^ho had always stood well in 
the estimation of the community, was accused by her 
as he was passing. She said : "You took the goods." 
He tried to ridicule the assertion, but she, under a pow- 
erful influence, seized hold of him and told him if he 
did not own the theft, she would detain him till he did. 
He finally confessed, and the goods were restored. 
Several other cases of a like nature have occurred in her 
experience. Clairvoyance is revealing the thoughts of 
many hearts, and murderers, robbers and hypocrites 
tremble at its revelation. 



170 nature's laws 



VERIFICATION OF DREAMS. 

Accounts of fore-warning by impressions made on 
the mind in dreams abound in tradition, and are not 
unfrequently recorded as matters of veritable history. 
Jacob, according to Jewish history, was thus fore- 
warned, and had his dreams realized. Pharaoh dreamed 
of circumstances which he could not understand, and 
Joseph was called upon to act as interpreter. These 
are familiar to every reader of the Hebrew scriptures. 

But startling events occurring in our own times, 
come to us with equal, or even greater force, because 
well authenticated, the proof of their fulfilment being 
easily accessible ; in some cases by reference to living 
witnesses. 

Unpublished cases are familiar to thousands who have 
heard the narration of circumstances from persons who 
have been themselves the recipients of the fore-warning^ 
and have been witnesses to the succeeding events which 
constituted the corresponding fulfilment. 

A few cases are subjoined : 

The springing of a leak and the loss of Schooner Sa- 
chem of this port, occasioned by her sinking on Georges, 
Sept. 8th, was attended by a singular oircumstance, 
which we hereby publish, assuring our readers that it is 
correct in every particular, and will be fully substanti- 
ated by the master of the vessel, Capt. J. Wenzell, 
from whose log book we gleaned the particulars : 

The vessel left Brown's Bank on the 7th of Septem- 
ber at 9 P. M. for Georges, with a fresh N. W. breeze, 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 171 

At midnight, the steward, John Nelson, arose from his 
berth, and going aft where the skipper was, remarked 
in an agitated voice, his whole appearance indicating 
great fear : 

"Skipper, we are soon to have a severe gale of wind, 
or something else of a dangerous nature is going to 
overtake the vessel, and we had better make land if we 
can, or at least keep clear of Georges, so as not to have 
it so rough when the danger comes." 

Capt. Wenzell asked him what made him think so, 
as everything was clear at the time, and there was no 
apprehensions of trouble or danger. 

Nelson replied, "I have been dreaming, and twice 
before I have had the same kinds of dreams ^yhen at 
sea, and both times have had narrow chances of beino* 
saved. The first time we were run into the day follow- 
ing the dream, and left in a sinking condition. With 
great efforts in bailing and pumping we reached the 
coast of Norway. The other time we experienced a 
terrible gale, had our sails blown away, and the vessel, 
half full of water, ran before it under bare poles, until 
we met the northeast trade winds, when we patched her 
up and made out to get her into Havana." 

He then told the purport of the dreams, which were 
of females dressed in white, either standing in the rain, 
or near a waterfall, or attempting to cross a brook. The 
figures in each dream were the same, but the surround- 
ings somewhat diiferent. 

The steward was a reliable man, and was so much in 
earnest that the captain, although seeing no signs of a 
gale of wind, and not inclined to be superstitious, con- 



172 nature's laws 

eluded it best to be on his guard, and charged the man 
forward to keep a strict watch. 

The wind was now increasing, with a heavy sea ris- 
ing, and at about half past one A. M. the vessel was 
about five miles from Georges banks. She was hove to 
under a close reefed foresail, and they were furling the. 
balance reef, when a white light was observed to - lee- 
ward, supposed to be on board a .fisherman lying at an- 
chor. Suddenly one of the crew sang out from the 
forecastle, "The vessel is filling with water !" Telling 
him not to alarm the men, the Captain went down and 
found six inches of water on the floor. The pumps 
were immediately manned, and bailing with buckets 
commenced, after which the Captain went sounding 
around in the hold to find the leak, but the vessel was 
rolling so hard, and the water made so much noise 
among the barrels and in the ice-house, that it was im- 
possible to hear anything else. It was thought that the 
leak was under the port bow, and the vessel was wore 
round and hove to on the other tack, in hopes to bring 
the leak out of the water. The steward was told to get 
some provisions and see that the boat was ready to 
launch at a moment's notice. It was now blowing a 
strong breeze from the northward, with a heavy sea. 
They spoke schooner Pescador and told them their con- 
dition. With all their pumping and bailing they could 
not gain on the leak, and the crew were determined not 
to remain on board another night. The tide swept 
them down to leeward of the Pescador, and efforts were 
made to speak her again, but they could not reach her. 
Their movements w^ere seen on board the Pescador, and 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 173 

upon asking them to send their boat to take them off, 
they did so at once. When they left the Sachem the 
water was eio-hteen inches above the forecastle floor. 
At two P. M. she rolled over on her side, raised her- 
self once, then plunged under head foremost, the master 
and crew feeling thankful to God tliat they had escaped 
and were safely landed on board the good schooner 
Pescador. 

These are the facts, and our readers can account for 
the dreams and the disasters in any manner that best 
pleases them. We publish the statement, because w^e 
consider it somewhat remarkable that the dreams should 
be the harbingers of disaster on three occasions. — Cape 
Ann Register. 

" During the past month Samuel Gorden of Tufton- 
boro, N. H., missed a fine large colt, 2 years old, which 
was found in a deep valley in the pasture, dead. Mr. 
G. supposed he died from some natural cause. But 
that night his wife dreamed that the colt was shot, that 
she saw the individual raise the rifle and fire the fatal 
shot. Her husband put no confidence in the dream, 
but to satisfy the importunity of his wife he called some 
of the neighbors to his assistance and made an exam- 
ination and found it even as the wife said. The ball 
entered just below the eye, passed through the head 
and down the windpipe, lodging in the lungs." 

A story went the rounds of the papers some time 
ago under the head of "The value of a dream," which 



174 NATURE^S LAWS 

as published in the Hartford Times of a recent date, 
runs as follows : 

" One of our most prominent and wealthy citizens had 
purchased a sightly piece of land outside the city, but 
within the town limits, and the purchaser was troubled 
somewhat because he had been told that he could not 
get water, owing to the elevated postition of his land, 
without digging further Chinaward than any one would 
be likely to undertake. As we said, this troubled him. 
He wanted a well on his place, and, although a man of 
great energy — one who never allowed any obstacle, no 
matter how great, to turn him from his path — he hesi- 
tated lono[ before undertakino^ his task. The thought 
of excavatino^ for a well throuo^h half a mile, more or 
less, of solid rock was enough to deter the stoutest 
heart. At this juncture, before he had resolved upon 
anything definite, he dreamed that he had set a gang of 
men to digging for a well on a certain (to his mind) 
well-defined spot, and that after digging a few feet, be- , 
ore the rock was reached, water flowed in abundance. 
The gentleman, though not a bit superstitious, and hold- 
ing dreams as lightly as anybody, was more impressed 
with his sleeping vision than he would have cared to 
acknowledge. At first he would have scouted the idea 
of treating the subject seriously enough to put a spade 
into the earth at the spot indicated in his dream ; but, 
do what he would, he could not dismiss the dream from 
his mind, and finally resolved to test it, but without any 
real belief that his dream would be verified. He set 
his men to work, and, strange to relate, after digging 
fifteen feet, water abundantly flowed, and thus the dream 



IN HUaiAN LIFE. 175 

fully came to pass. We have seen the well with our 
own eyes, and the dreamer, who is a gentleman of un- 
doubted veracity, assures us that our story is true." 

It is well known that the Wesley family were for a 
considerable time visited by unseen intelligences, who 
made known their presence by well marked physical 
manifestations. One of them was also a dreamer, and 
the following story is prefaced by the narrator thus : 

We would advise those who are sorely troubled and 
vexed in spirit, lest perad venture they have not found 
the true Church, to read the following vision of the cel- 
ebrated Wesley, who at the time was seriously troubled 
in regard to the disposition of the various sects, and the 
chances of each in reference to future happiness and 
punishment. A dream, one night transported him in 
its uncertain wandering to the gates of hell. "Are 
tliere any Roman Catholics here?" asked Wesley, 
thoughtfully. "Yes." " Any Presbyterians ? " "Yes" 
again was the rejoinder. "Any Baptists?" "Yes" 
"Any Methodists?" by the way of a clincher, asked the 
pious Wesley, "Yes," to his great indignation was an- 
swered. 

In the mystic ways of dreams, by a sudden transi- 
tion he stood before the gates of heaven. Improving 
his opjportunity he again inquired ; "Are there any Ro- 
man Catholics here?" "No," was the reply, "Any 
Presbyterians?" "No." "Any Baptists?" "No, Sir." 
^'Any Methodists?" "No." "Well then, he asked, 
lost in wonder, "who are they inside?" "Christians," 
was the jubilant answer. 



176 nature's laws 



SPIRITUALISM IN COURT. 

In the summer of 1868 a Spiritualist Camp Meeting 
was held in the immediate vicinity of Boston. Mr. and 
Mrs. Feitel were among the attendants thereof. Thev 
returned to Boston by a horse railroad car on Sunday, 
when a serious accident occurred. In the catastrophe 
Mrs. F. was injured, and it was supposed, for life. A 
claim for damages having been set up and refused by 
the company owning the road, suit was entered for the 
recovery of the amount claimed. The following ex- 
tracts from the report of the trial will be read with in- 
terest by all who have any regard for freedom of opin- 
ion in religious matters. 

Able counsel was engaged by the respective parties 
in controversy, viz : Mr. Somerby for the plaintiffs, 
and Mr. Sweetser for the defendants. The main ques- 
tion involved was whether a meeting of Spiritualists 
held on Sunday could be considered a religious meet- 
ing: • if not it was an infrinoement of the law. 

The argument was entered upon by the lawyers for 
the plaintiffs striving to establish their case, and the 
lawyers for the horse railroad company claiming that 
Mrs. Feitel and husband were travelling — contrary to 
the statutes in such cases made and provided — on Sun- 
day ; that they had been attending a place of public 
amusement, and that she was injured on her return, and 
so were not within the law, and could not recover dam- 
ages. The defence also endeavored to prove that Mrs. 



IN HUxMAN LIFE. 177 

Feitel had a tendency to paralysis, and had had one 
shock (or more) of it previous to the accident. On 
the morning in question the first witness sworn was 
Charles Ci Dudley, who was summoned by the de- 
fence to prove the advertisement in the Banner of Light, 
of the camp meeting; cross-examined, he proved to be 
a strong witness for the j^laintiffs, as he was on the car, 
and testified that, while going at the rate of some six 
miles an hour, the car suddenly stopped as if it had 
struck a stone wall, and then fell, (the forward end) 
he thought, some eighteen inches, throwing the passen- 
gers in aheap together. Himself and wife were stran- 
gers to all in the car. 

Witness Charles A. Whitmore was then sworn for 
the defence to prove the character of Laura V. Ellis's 
manifestations — which were advertised in the Banner of 
Light as a part of the camp meeting services. His tes- 
timony was received after some objections on the part 
of the plaintiffs' counsel. The witness testified to the 
various phenomena which generally occur at her sean- 
ces, and which are too well known to our readers to 
need explanation here. He could not tell who untied 
her, but no one was with her in the cabinet. Cross-ex- 
amined, he thought that the order preserved at the tent 
was good — that the people, about fifty in number, were 
quiet and very respectable. Being asked if he thought 
the manifestations in the tent might be looked upon as 
a religious ceremony, he replied that Mr Ellis said he 
gave the broadest liberty in accounting for the phenom- 
ena — persons might decide for themselves how they 
were done. Witness said there was nothins: done dif- 



178 nature's laws 

ferently in the tent than if it were a religious ceremony, 
which Mr. and Miss Ellis and some of the audience 
conscientiously believed in. Just as any denomination 
— Protestant or Catholic — might hold its meetings after 
a peculiar form so he thought the exercises in the tent 
passed off. 

To offset the testimony of several medical gentlemen 
for the plaintiff — who had said, to their minds, the ac- 
cident was sufficient to have j^roduced the paralysis 
claimed — Drs. Alton Ellis, of Boston, and Gilman 
Kimball, of Lowell, both of whom had given much at- 
tention to the subject of paralysis, were introduced by 
the defence, and testified in the main that the shock of 
the accident — in their several opinions — was not suffi- 
cient, of itself, to produce the result claimed — the incu- 
rable paralyzation of the lady's lower limbs. To them 
there must be something else in the history of the case 
to bring about so serious a result. 

Dr. H. B. Storer was then called, and after some 
preliminary interrogatories were put, the examination 
proceeded as follov/s : 

Somerby — Do you believe these things as a matter of 
conscience ? 

Storer — ^Yes, sir. 

Somerby — You being chairman, was there anything 
done at the meeting except such as might have occurred 
in any religious assemblage ? 

Storer — No, sir. 

Somerby — It has Jbeen said by some witnesses that 
there was praying and singing and hallooing after this 
manner. 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 179 

Storer — There was not quite so much shouting as is 
generally heard at camp meetings. Our meetings were 
very orderly and still. 

Sweetser — How could you call the " spirits " to or- 
der? 

Storer — By disturbing the conditions, and thus pre- 
ventins: further manifestations. 

. Sweetser — What do you mean ? How could you dis- 
turb the conditions ? 

Storer — By expressing dissent at the proceedings and 
by requesting them to stop. I should appeal to them 
just as to a person in the body. 

John Wetherbee, a prominent Spiritualist, was then 
summoned to give what facts he might know concerning 
the religious character of the meeting. In answer to 
opening interrogatories he gave his name, and said his 
business was that of a broker. 

Somerby — Were yj3u present at the afternoon servi- 
ces held at this Spiritualist camp meeting in 1868 ? 

Wetherbee — I was. 

Somerby — You will tell the jury if there was any 
disturbance there. 

Wetherbee — There was not. 

Somerby — State, as far as you know, whether or not 
the physical manifestations spoken of, by Miss Ellis, 
were parts of the religious exercises. 

Wetherbee — It is a part of my belief. 

Sweetser. — You say, according to your belief, the 
exercises were of a devotional character. What do you 
mean? 

Wetherbee — I believe in Spiritualism — in whose in- 



180 nature's laws 

terests the meetings were held — in spirits, and, conse- 
quently, in Laura Ellis. 

Sweetser — You say you believe in Miss Ellis. What 
do you mean by that ? 

Wetherbee — She gets into a cabinet, and is tied or 
untied by an unseen power — some power outside of her- 
self — and that power I call spirits — disembodied hu- 
man beings. 

Sweetser — So they can take a ring from her finger 
and put it on her nose ! 

Wetherbee — Yes. 

Somerby — You call that power "the spirits" ? 

Wetherbee — Yes, sir. 

Somerby — Do you believe in God. 

Wetherbee — Yes, sir ; and worship him, I hope. 

Counsel for the defence considered the followino* a 

o 

point in argument. 

Spiritualism was a something not very well defined 
as yet, and lie thought but a few believed in it. There 
didn't seem to be anything about it that was real. To 
believe that men have conversed with spirits he thought 
was foolish, and the matter purporting to come from 
these spirits is the sheerest nonsense in the world. He 
referred facetiously to the tying, untying and ring feats 
of Miss Ellis. Nobody could understand it — he could 
not see any use in it. He thought there were many 
among the Spiritualists who disbelieved in God, the 
Bible, or in anything. He believed we should "sup- 
port religion in some form, and not the class which has 
the Banner of Light for an exponent." 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 181 

G. A. Somerby tlien took up his argument for the 
plaintiffs, from which we -give the extracts below. Af- 
ter referring to the claim in the case for damages sus- 
tained, and his conviction that the learned gentleman 
Avho had just addresssed them for the defence had not 
met the points he had raised for the plaintiffs, said : 

"It is certainly plain to my mind that this woman 
was clearly within the law : that she was doing that 
which she had a right to be doing upon the Sabbath 
day in Massachusetts ; that she had a right to be upon 
the cars that day for the purpose ; that she did all that 
she could to take care of herself ; that the company were 
negligent, and by that negligence she is permanently 
injured. I wish to discuss this case carefully, and it 
becomes necessary for me to consider whether or no this 
woman had a right to be there on that day. Let us see. 
For the first time in my experience, I have occasion to 
discuss a man's religion — a woman's religious opinion. 
I have got to look and see what she believes. * * * * 

When I talk about a man's religious opinion, I talk 
about something that is free as air. The great and 
crowning feature which distinguishes Massachusetts from 
the old countries is, that here a man may have any re- 
ligious opinion, and no man may sneer at it. There is 
no law by which we can try the belief of any individu- 
al. Every man's religion in Massachusetts is respected, 
and no court, no man or collection of men has a right 
to hold it up to ridicule. Any other doctrine would 
dwarf a man's religious faculties, and tear down precise- 
ly what all the creeds are seeking to uphold. If a man 
and woman believe in God as the Supreme Being ; if 



182 nature's laws 

they go further, and believe that God is a revelator, 
and that these spiritual manifestations are permitted by 
him, or are according to his will, I pretend to say — as 
a debater, not as a theologian — that they believe in just 
what the others do ; the only difference is in degree. 
Why, is not the bottom of all beliefs a faith in the im- 
mortality of the human soul? Is it not that a man be- 
lieves he shall live hereafter, and shall see his father 
and mother and children, wife and friends forever? Do 
you not all believe this [addressing the jury,] however 
widely your creeds may differ? All denominations are 
teaching this underlying truth, whatever else may be 
contained in their tenets ; and yet this Spiritualist de- 
nomination has been held up to be sneered at because 
its followers go further than the others. 

Reference has been made by the learned gentleman 
on the other side to the vagueness and mystery attending 
the spiritualistic manifestations ; but are there not things 
just as mysterious in the teachings of the other sects? 
Who can, for instance, describe the process attending 
the transubstantiation ? It is not a matter of demon- 
stration, but a matter of belief of any religious denom- 
ination — and what a multitude we have ! — from the 
strongest to the weakest — the Catholic, the Orthodox, 
the Swedenborgian , the Shakers or the Spiritualists — 
all are entitled to respect, all are alike in Massachusetts, 
because the words of the constitution are that a man's 
religious belief shall be protected. 

No man has a right to sneer about what he does not 
understand. Suppose I was pleading for the Catholic 
religion to-day — who should explain all about its cere- 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 183 

monies? Should I, or any one else, say it is not true 
because I cannot describe all its mysteries ? I must be 
governed by the fact — Do they, its professed followers, 
believe it? Do they act as if they do? Suppose I 
take the Sweden borgian — a doctrine harder to under- 
stand, even, than the Spiritualist. Its followers believe 
in it, as a matter of conscience, and cherish a belief in 
departed spirits, as do the Spiritualists. Go into a 
Swedenborgian family, and see the empty chair kept in 
its place, in remembrance of him or her whose bodily 
presence shall fill it no more ! I cite these examples 
and make these remarks as explanatory that any man 
has a right to stand on and by his religious belief. 
Who shall judge when a man is honest and when he is 
not ? Who is endowed with that power which shall en- 
able him to tell, when a man swears that he believes, 
that he swears falsely ? Yv^ho shall condemn or ridicule 
that which is not to be explained ? There is not a blade 
of grass that waves upon the bosom of the earth, not a 
revolution of our planet around the sun, not a ray of 
light that illuminates the otherwise darkened air, the 
mystery of whose being or occurrence can be explained. 
What is the power which carries about these bodies of 
ours? No man can tell. All Christians together be- 
lieve in the immortality of the soul. They believe that 
soul exists. The body falls away — the spirit remains ; 
and is it a strange thing to believe that that soul which 
thinks and reasons and feels can communicate with 
earthly clay? Why, gentlemen, I venture to say — I 
don't care what your religious tenets — that I do not 
think there is a man of vou who did not believe, when 



184 

his mother or his children left him, that they were near 
him in spirit ; that there is not one of you who is not 
often impressed to do this thing or to avoid that, and 
cannot tell how or why. 

I stand here to defend no religious doctrine, but to 
show that these parties, as Spiritualists, believe in their 
religion — are conscientious in it ; that their doctrine, by 
examination, is found to be kindred to other religious 
systems, though wider in degree ; and that they have a 
right to believe in it. Suppose all this had taken place 
in a church. Suppose she had attended a service such 
as is agreeed to upon all hands — heard singing, by a 
choir, of devotional hymns, listened to prayers and 
preaching, and then, returning home, had met with this 
injury. But the meeting she did attend, and from 
which she was returning, was devotional ; its whole as- 
pect was such. Is there any line of discrimination to 
be drawn in free Massachusetts against her any more 
than against a Swedenborgian, an Orthodox, a Metho- 
dist, or a Roman Catholic ? No ! — because it was with 
her a matter of conscience, and she was then and there 
worshipping God according to the dictates of that con- 
science. Men have no right to arraign her. If it be 
a matter of conscience, I claim she had a right so to do 
— a right to worship God as she chose to believe * * 

If the parties then and there assembled — right or 
wrong — believed that these manifestations came from 
spirits, they and she had a right to say by their pres- 
ence, " We believe in the immortality of the soul ; we 
believe in this communion of friends who have left us. 
We may be wrong, but we believe ! " They may not 



m HUMAN LIFE. 185 

be able to demonstrate it fully ; but are the other Chris- 
tian denominations better off ? Suppose you ask a man 
to define the Trinity. Multitudes of good men have 
affected to believe it, but how shall it be described? 
And yet all who desire have a right to believe therein. 
If these people believed, that is all that is required. It 
is not a question as to how absurd or otherwise any re- 
ligious system may be to an unbeliever — its integrity is 
guaranteed by the constitution. A Quaker, in his gray 
garb, entering a Roman Catholic church, may think its 
elaborate services mere form , without a heai-t in them ; 
and a Catholic beholding the Shakers as they dance on 
Sunday around the room, each sex separated, might 
consider the exhibition immeasurably profane or inde- 
scribably ludicrous. But the question in both cases is, 
Do they — the worshippers — believe in what they are 
doing ? They disturb nobody. Therefore I say, with- 
out standing out for Spiritualism or any other religious 
system, but as an American citizen standing upon the 
law and the constitution, that, if a man believes in Spir- 
itualism, I care not what the form, he has a right to be 
defended." 

The advocate then proceeded to speak of the claims 
of his clients to be believers in Spirituahsm as a matter 
of conscience, and desired to know if anything in evi- 
dence had transpired to show that they had not told the 
truth. On the Sunday in question, Mrs. Feitel at- 
tended the Spiritualist Sabbath school in Charlestown 
— in which, previous to her confinement, she was a 
teacher — and then visited Boston with her husband 
(who was a practical chemist, engaged in making vin- 



186 nature's laws 

egar), to see that matters at his store were all right 
which was necessary, as much loss of material might 
occur if the processes did not go on properly. They 
then went together to the camp meeting grounds in 
Maiden. After attending the general exercises there, 
they went directly back to Maiden, waited for a chance 
in the ci*rs, and, finding it, started for home. The lady 
had started for and had attended the camp meeting just 
as she would have done the regular meeting of her soci- 
ety, or just as any man would have gone to his church. 
She attended — so she claimed — the camp meeting for 
purposes of worship ; and when the services were over, 
she took the best way to get home which offered itself. 
Was she not to be defended in this, her just rights in 
the matter ? In proof that camp or field meetings for 
religious purposes were recognized as proper to be held 
by the laws of Massachusetts, Mr. Somerby read from 
Sec. 22, Chap. 16th, of the General Statutes. 

It was evident, to his mind, that Mrs. Feitel, when 
she attended this legalized order of meetings, was just 
as much within the protection of the law as if she had 
gone out of her house to the hall where she generally 
attended. As re^^arded what had been said in ridicule 
of the spiritual belief, it must be remembered that Spir- 
itualism was a new matter ; and, like all new move- 
ments, many things would be done at the first of it 
which would not be done at the last of it. The ques- 
tion for the jury was, to consider the motives of the 
plaintiffs in attending the meeting, and whether if, on 
the 5th of September, 1868, Mrs. Feitel, in going to a 
place where her regular society and many Spiritualists 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 187 

of other towns had gone, did anything worse than if she 
had attended a Methodist camp meeting. 

Mr. Somerby thought the statement that liquor was 
sold on the ground, contrary to the rules of the com- 
mittee, ought not to prejudice the mind of any gentle- 
man against the meeting, and especially not against the 
lady, who attended it in good faith. What was there, 
he asked, in this woman's going to that meeting and re- 
turning, that you would not have done if you had be- 
lieved just as she did ? He could not sympathize with 
w^hat had been said about the announcement that, at a 
certain time, spiritual manifestations would be given by 
Miss Ellis. I don't laugh at such things because I 
don't believe them. I have no right to do it. Mr. 
John Wetherbee, a stock broker, and a man well known 
in financial circles, had said, "I believe these things as 
a matter of religion ; " and so had Dr. Storer, who was 
a man of intelligence. Who should challenge their con- 
scientious belief? Could any one tell him why religious 
services just as orderly and decorous as in a temple 
could not occur under the green leaves and amid the 
waving grasses of a cool retreat in summer? He could 
see no force in the attempted defence set up by the rail- 
road corporation, that they were running illegally on 
that day, and that therefore the plaintiffs were also in 
the wrong. The defence had not succeeded in estab- 
lishing that the plaintiffs went for wrong purposes, or 
that they did not go to the meeting as a matter of con- 
science ; and he could not see where his clients failed to 
comply with the provisions of the Sunday law, which 
said : 



188 nature's laws 

"Whoever travels on the Lord's Day, except from 
necessity or charity, shall be punished by fine not ex- 
ceeding ten dollars for each offence." 

I cannot see any word here about going to church. 
I claim that the constitution, as it stands in Massachu- 
setts, is beyond all lav\^ ; the law proceeds and flows 
from it. 

Judge Wells — How far do you say that a man may 
travel to church on Sunday? 

Somerby — As far as he desires to. I know of no 
yardstick by which to measure the distance. I know 
of no law by which a man must go to any particular 
town to meeting, any more than to any particular 
church. If there was no church of his persuasion in 
the town where he resided — what then ? Suppose we 
go back to the original Puritan times : suppose a Cath- 
olic wished to attend church, and there was none ex- 
cept by going to Worcester, for instance ; is there any 
anything in the law of Massachusetts to prevent his rid- 
ing there, and driving back the same day, if he could? 
These matters of conscience existed before the Consti- 
tution was framed, and are recognized by it. They do 
not depend upon law at all, but are fundamental. The 
Legislature could not pass any law contrary to the pro- 
visions of the Constitution. Hear the declarations of 
the Massachusetts Bill of Eights : 

1. All men are born free and equal, and have cer- 
tain natural, essential and inalienable rights ; among 
which may be reckoned the right of enjoying and de- 
fending their lives and liberties ; that of acquiring, pos- 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 189 

sessing and protecting property ; in fine, that of seeking 
and obtaining their safety and happiness. 

2. It is the right, as well as the duty of all men in 
society publicly and at stated seasons to worship the 
Supreme Being, the great Creator and Preserver of the 
Universe. And no subject shall be hurt, molested or 
restrained in his personal liberty or estate, for worship- 
ing God in the manner and season most agreeable to the 
dictates of his own conscience ; or for his religious pro- 
fessions or sentiments ; provided he doth not disturb 
the public peace, or obstruct others in their religious 
worship." 

And article third of the same instrument has been 
amended so as to read as follows : 

"As the happiness of a people, and the good order 
and the preservation of civil government, essentially de- 
pend upon piety, religion and morality ; and as those 
cannot be generally diffused through a community but 
by the institution of the public worship of God, and of 
public instruction in piety, religion and morality : 
Therefore * * * the people of this Commonwealth have 
a right to invest their Legislature with power to author- 
ize and require, and the Legislature shall from time to 
time authorize and require the several towns, parishes, 
precincts and other bodies politic or religious societies, 
to make suitable provision at their own expense for the 

institution of the public worship of God. 

******** 

And every denomination of Christians, demeaning 
themselves peaceably, and as good subjects of the Com- 
monwealth, shall be equally under the protection of the 



190 

law ; and no subordination of any one sect or denomi- 
nation to another shall ever be established by law." 

I claim, from this, that it is fundamental that a man's 
worshipping God as he pleases, does not depend upon 
legislation, but as long as a man keeps himself inside 
the Constitution — no matter what his religious tenets — 
and does not disturb others, so long he is within the 
protection of the law. 

At the conclusion of the arguments of respective 
counsel for the parties in controversy, the Judge gave 
a very lucid charge to the jury, of which the following 
is a synopsis. 

The plaintiff claimed that she was travelling to and 
from a religious meeting, and according to her religious 
belief. The matter depended upon the character of the 
meeting to which she was going. The statute reads : 

"Whoever keeps open his shop, warehouse or work- 
house, or does any manner of labor, business or work, 
except work of necessity and charity, or is present at 
any dancing or public diversion, show or entertainment, 
or takes part in any sport, game or play, on the Lord's 
Day, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding ten dol- 
lars for every offence." 

If therefore, the meeting in Maiden was of this char- 
acter — a show, public diversion, entertainment or play 
— then travel to it would be illegal. It is true, said 
the Judge, that religious worship and religious belief 
are not defined by the constitution, and no man is limi- 
ted at all in his religious belief, nor in his right to wor- 
ship according to his own belief: and no one can say, 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 191 

because he dislikes or disbelieves in the manner of exhib- 
iting this belief, or the form of any particular religious 
worship, that it does not come within the constitution- 
al riofhts of another who does believe it to follow it. 
But, in order tliat it shall have this character of relig- 
ious worship, it must be shown that the parties regard 
it to be a religious matter. 

There is one feature of the meeting to which I ought 
perhaps to call your attention : In the advertisement 
published beforehand was a notice of Laura Y. Ellis, 
and at the meeting itself it was announced that she 
would exhibit certain manifestations in a tent close by, 
admission to which was twenty five cents. And you 
have here heard the character of those manifestations. 
I think the facts are such that I can instruct you that 
that exhibition in that tent, for the purpose of gain — to 
which there was a charge of twenty five cents for admis- 
sion — was a show ; and that all persons attending it, or 
knowing to it, could be punished according to the stat- 
ure. And if she [Mrs. Feitel] went out to attend that 
show, then her purpose was not a legal one. If upon 
the whole evidence, you are satisfied that it was a show 
or entertainment, and not for religious worship, then it 
was a meeting by an attendance on which she was not 
entitled to recover. 

The case was then given to the jury, who, after due 
deliberation, returned a verdict of $5,000 [the original 
claim being $15,000] damages in favor of Albert J. and 
Mrs. Feitel. 

The interest in this case centers in the fact that by a 



192 nature's laws 

judicial decision, a liberal construction is given to the 
Statute of Massachusetts, concerning the right of every 
man and woman to conduct or attend religious worship, 
on Sunday, according to the dictates of their own con- 
science ; and the fact is also settled that under the Con- 
stitution, spiritualists can enjoy the liberty of holding 
their meetings on that day, equally with their orthodox 
neighbors. 

We insert here also an account of another case of 
Spiritualism in Court, in which the question of the le- 
gal responsibility of mediumistic healers for alleged 
mal-practice in that capacity was in dispute. 

"On Friday June 23d, in the Superior Civil Court 
for Plymouth County, Mass., held at Plymouth, the 
case of Luther T. Phillips vs. William Chandler came 
up. This was an action brought by the plaintiff to re- 
cover for injuries received from an unskilful surgical 
operation performed by the defendant. The defendant 
is a well-known Spiritualist doctor residing in Kingston, 
and it was contended by the defence that he can neither 
read nor write, and is entirely ignorant of medicine, 
that he never pretended to have skill of himself, and 
that his patrons well knew that his treatment was wholly 
dependent upon abnormal influences while in a trance 
condition, and that there was no responsibility beyond 
the actino^ in o^ood faith to obtain the abnormal influence. 

The court (Judge Reed) ruled that where a party 
holds himself out as a Spiritualist doctor, he is only 
held to use the ordinary reasonable means to procure 
the attendance of spirits at the time and place of the 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 193 

treatment — or that if the party so holding himself out 
to treat disease takes the ordinary means in use with 
such person to induce the attendance of spirits, he is 
not liable for want of skill while so treating his patients. 

The case was submitted to the jury upon the question 
whether the defendant treated the plaintiff while in the 
condition he contracted to be in, and if not, whether 
the plaintiff suffered injury from that treatment, and to 
what extent. They rendered a verdict for the defendant." 

The particulars of the case are not given , but the term 
surgical is doubtless used in a technical sense, for strong 
as the faith of any one may be in the power exercised 
through what is here called a Spiritualist doctor, it is 
not probable that the patient would risk the use of in- 
struments in his hands. There are adventurers travel- 
ling about, presumptuous enough to boast of surgical 
skill employed when under control, ready to perform 
difficult operations, but their pretensions are heralded 
in the most audacious style of unprincipled charlatans. 
They have brought disgrace upon the cause of Spiritu- 
alism, wherever they have travelled. 

There must be good evidence of acquired knowledge 
and manual dexterity, to command the implicit confi- 
dence of the patient, at any time, before he can safely 
place trust in the surgeon ; and the injunction against 
surrendering reason to blind faith, certainly applies in 
cases where the knife is pretentiously seized by ignorant 
hands, to the imminent danger of life and limb. The 
intelligent surgeon may, however, be aided by spirit 
power. 



194 nature's laws 



WHAT GOOD HAS SPIRITUALISM DONE? 

This question is often asked by those who are skepti- 
cal as to the truth of spiritual phenomena, as well as by 
those who no longer deny, but who nevertheless doubt 
the practical value of the revelations. The first answer 
suggested, is that it gives the most satisfactory proof of 
the immortality of the human soul, which can be derived 
from no other source. 

But there are other practical results more directly 
cognizable by the senses, many of which have been 
heretofore adverted to. Among these, and by no means 
the least important is the cure of disease. The gift of 
healing, it is contended by this doubting class was 
vouchsafed only to certain favored ones who lived in the 
apostolic times, since which it has ceased to exist. The 
following cases are cited to show that it exists among 
us at the present day. 

QASES ILLUSTRATING THE CURE OF DISEASE BY SPIRIT 
POWER. 

The first case is related by a young lady who was 
herself the recipient ofthe healing power, after suffering 
seriously from the effects of an injury of one of her 
limbs, inflicted through the carelessness of a companion, 
producing what seemed to result at length in permanent 
inability to use the limb, and in its progress involving 



IN HUMAN LITE. 195 

the spine. We have omitted some unimportant details, 
otherwise giving the language of the writer. 



INJiniY OF THE LEFT KNEE-JOINT. 

Some six years ago, while attending school in Low- 
ell, Mass., I fell down stairs through the carelessness 
of a schoolmate, injuring myself considerably. Since 
then I have been troubled at times with my spine and left 
knee. 

About a year since my general health failed me also. 
I began to suiFer again with the pain in my spine, which 
grew worse and worse until it was almost unendurable. 
I received treatment from one of the best physicians in 
Boston Highlands (as I then resided in Boston,) but 
was not benefitted. He then advised me to go away 
from the salt water. I immediately went to Danville, 
New Hampshire, w^here I had the advice of other phy- 
sicians. They all agreed in saying it must be moved. 
In the course of a few weeks my left knee became very 
painful, and swelled a great deal, but the pain in my 
back was somewhat relieved. In a very -short time af- 
ter leaving Boston I was unable to walk without the 
help of a crutch. For the last seven months I have 
suffered intensely, being obliged to recline a great part 
of the time. [She then had recourse to a prominent 
healer, who said "I am going to cure you," and after 
five minutes manipulation, she was able to walk. She 
continues the narrative ;] 

I went back to the reception room, and in a few min- 
utes saw one of my skeptical friends coming in. I 



196 nature's laws 

walked across the room to meet him, saying. "What 
do you think of it ?" He was so much surprised to see 
me walking that for several seconds he made no reply. 
At last he said : "Well, well, I do not know what to 
think of it ! You do not walk much as you did yester- 
day ! " An old gentleman (who by the way was an 
Episcopal clergyman,) who had not seen less than eigh- 
ty winters came tremblingly to the door, and in a broken 
voice said, "Who did this? who performed this cure?" 
addressing the Doctor. "God did it." "Yes, I know 
he did, as he does everything that is good. But who 
was the instrument ?" "I was the instrument, " replied 
the Doctor. "But by what power do you claim to do 
these things?" "By the same power that Christ did — 
by the power of God." "But do you not think that 
borders a little on blasphemy?" said the old gentle- 
man, who had advanced further and further into the 
room, until at last he sank into a chair. "No," said 
the Doctor, "for Christ said, ^The works that I do ye 
shall do also, and greater, because I go to the Father : 
and these are the signs which do follow them that be- 
lieve ; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall 
recover.' I am a practical Christian ; the churches — 
they are all idolatrous. Did you ever hear of a minis- 
ter laying his hand on any of his sick parishioners and 
healing them ? I heal the sick in the same manner as 
Jesus did, and I am not afraid or ashamed to own it." 
"But Jesus was the son of God?" "I claim to be the 
son of God. We are all sons of God," replied the doc- 
tor. "Didn't you ever think you was the son of God?" 
"No." "Well, it is time you did, with your head al- 



* IN HUMAN LIFE. ' 197 

ready covered with grey hairs." "Jesus and the apos- 
tles healed without coming in contact with the sick, " said 
the old gentleman. "So do I sometimes." "Well, 
here, cure this limb, " at the same time holding his limb 
out toward the doctor, who was sitting at the opposite 
side of the room. "I can't." " You are honest. Why 
not?" "Because of your unbelief. Jesus and the 
apostles could not do many wonderful works in a cer- 
tain city, because of the unbelief of the people." 

A LADY RESTORED AFTER BEING PRONOUNCED BY HER 
PHYSICIAN HOPELESS. 

A correspondent communicates the following : 
"Some fourteen years ago, Mrs. Conant was giving 
sittings at the National House, Boston. I was then 
stopping at the New England House. A sea captain 
was boarding there wdth his wife. She was taken very 
sick ; her doctor had no hopes^of her recovery, and her 
sister was summoned from New York City to see her 
before the change called death took place. She was a 
Baptist in belief; therefore the divine from Tremont 
Temple (Kalloch) was called to pray with her. 

Meeting the captain, and hearing how dangerously ill 
his wife was, I broached the subject of Spiritualism to 
him gently, (he being a stranger) and advised him to 
call on Mrs. Conant — who was controlled by Dr. Kit- 
redge — and see if he could not give some assistance to 
the sick one. He said he did not know anything about 
such things, but was willing to try anything, as he had 
no hopes of her recovering. I told him I would go 



11)8 nature's laws ' 

with him to see her. We met her, and I asked if she 
could examine a patient at a distance. She replied 
that she did not know what could be done, but she 
would give a seance and see. She then passed into a 
trance, when Dr. Kittredge came, and I asked him if 
he would go to the ISTew England House and examine 
a patient, not stating who it was, or what the troable. 
The doctor asked the number of the room. The cap- 
tain gave it. All was silent for five minutes, when the 
doctor spoke and stated who he found in the room, and 
just the condition of the patient, and said that the at- 
tending doctor did not understand the case, and that if 
he (the captain) would go to her room and make passes 
over her head and rub her, he thought she could be 
saved from the change. The captain followed the ad- 
vice of the spirit. Dr. Kittredge, and in a few weeks' 
time his wife was sitting by his side at the dinner-table 
with myself opposite, and I know I did not 'see through 
a glass darkly,' but 'face to face.'" 



INSANITY. 

A case came under our personal observation about 
twelve years ago. One of our well-to-do, influential 
Boston merchants, who had previously become convinced 
of the truth of Spiritualism, called upon a medium, 
through whom his brother-in-law and his mother mani- 
fested their presence, describing the condition of his 
sister who was then an inmate of the McLean Asylum, 
in Somerville, and whose mental disease, as stated by 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 199 

the Superintendent, had a suicidal tendency in as dan- 
gerous a degree as any patient then under his charge. 
These spirit relatives begged that she should be taken 
out of the institution, and placed under magnetic treat- 
ment, aided by spirit influence, promising benefit if not 
a cure from that course. 

The gentleman having so much confidence in this 
promise, and aware that the medium had no knowledge 
of the case, except that derived through the spirit friends, 
followed the advice given. He first made arrangements 
for the medium to accompany him as a friend, on a vis- 
it to his sister. Then he was again importuned in the 
same way to remove her to a temporary boarding place 
where the desired means of relief could be employed. 

Having acceded to the urgent solicitation, the patient 
was met by several mediums, and from thence removed 
to a more permanent place where a number of mediums 
resided, and the proposed remedial influence tested. 
The result was restoration to soundness of mind, which 
has continued to this day. For six years past the lady 
has had charge of her daughter's twin children. 

It may be stated that the cause of the insanity in this 
case was religious excitement, the patient entertaining 
the idea that she had committed "the unpardonable sin." 
It is alluded to in Mr. R. D. Owen's late work — The 
Debatable Land, p. 523. 

There was a gradual improvment in both the bodily 
and mental condition, from the time she was subjected 
to the change of treatment. The patient enjoyed the 
spirit control, and often asked the 'spirits to come and 
converse with her through the medium. 



200 nature's laws 



RHEUMATISM AND CANCER. 



Hon. Neal Dow in an article entitled "What is it?" 
communicated to the Congregatioiialist of Jan'y 25 
1872 — a weekly religious newspaper published in the 
interest of the denomination known by that name, relates 
a conversation held between a friend of his and a mag- 
netizer, whom he designates Dr. Blank, concerning two 
cures effected by the vital magnetic process. He quotes 
the celebrated passage from Shakspeare, "There are 
more things in Heaven and earth than are dreamed of 
in our philosophy," closing his paper with a repetition 
of the opening question, and adding "Can the doctors 
tell ? " The first case was one of Cancer and the second 
one of Sciatica, a severe form of E-heumatism. We 
give the substance, reversing the order by inserting first 
a letter under date of Oct. 1869, addressed to the mag- 
netizer, by the friend alluded to, on whose person the 
cure was performed. Mr. D's estimate of liis friend 
is given in the first two paragraphs of his article, which 
we copy from the Congregationalist. 

"A few weeks ago, being in an eastern city, I called 
on an old and valued friend living there, and in course of 
our talk, I asked him about his wife, who had been cured 
of cancer, and wished to know all about it from him, as 
I had heard the story many times from other parties, and 
so he proceeded to tell me. 

I may premise that my friend is a most intelligent 
man, not at all given to new things because they are 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 201 

new, nor lightly esteeming old things because they are 
old ; there is not among my circle of friends a man of 
sounder sense, or better judgment, or more reliable ; 
nor one whose advice would be more eagerly sought by 
his friends in circumstances to need counsel. Well, my 
friend proceeded in his story which concerned matters 
transpiring two or three years ago. 

The letter alluded to is in these words : 

Dear Sir, — I send you a few words of cheer, on 
account of the remarkable cure you have effected in me. 
May God bless you always, wherever you may be. 
About the first of June, I was prostrated with Rheu- 
matism, and after suffering terribly for more than tliree 
months without obtaining any permanent relief, I saw 
your advertisement in the Portland Daily Press, and 
without any faith in your mode of treatment myself, was 
induced by my wife to call on you as a last resort. I 
was on two crutches, and could not walk a step without 
them. I had not slept any the previous night, and was 
in intense pain in my right leg. ' 

After one treatment by you of about twenty minutes 
the pain left me entirely and has never returned. 

I threw my crutches away and have not been on them 
since. 

I write this to you, without any solicitation on your 
part, in order that you may be encouraged to continue 
to exercise the mysterious power of healing the sick. 
Hoping your patients may have as much reason to re- 
joice in your great success as I have. 

Yours truly. 



202 nature's laws 

The particulars of the other case were published in 
the Banner of Light over a year ago. The patient who 
was afflicted with the cancer was the wife of the writer 
of the preceding letter. 

The facts are stated as follows : 

Dr. Blank informs us that a few months ago, a lady 
called on him in a sorrowful state of mind, informing 
him that a professor of one of our medical institutions 
as well as her family physician, had informed her that she 
had a cancer which would prove fatal, if not removed 
before the expiration of two weeks. 

On her way from the professor to the doctor she had 
consulted with a clairvoyant physician, who declared 
that the knife must not be used, but that the trouble 
could be cured without such harsh means. The doctor 
gave her a magnetic treatment, and then went with her 
to some persons who made cancer a speciality, and their 
opinion was that the disease could be cured. This en- 
couraged her to risk the "new mode" of treatment, but, 
in obedience to the prejudices of her friends who were 
not acquainted with, but much opposed to the magnetic 
process, she declined risking so dangerous a case with 
any one save a regular physician. The next day after 
Dr. Blank's treatment he met her, and she reported her 
case improving, and also said that she knew of an ex- 
perienced physician who possessed the power, and liad 
made a cure for a friend of hers, and that she had deci- 
ded to place herself under his . care on her friends ac- 
count. She was under this doctor's treatment by the 
laying on of hands for a month, and was cured. She 



IX HUMAN LIFE. 203 

visited the Professor who had advised the use of the 
knife, and he was very much surprised at the result. 

Dr. Blank says he desired the facts known, as the 
lady is not a Spiritualist, but, with her husband is an 
active church member, and reliable. 



INJURY FROM A FALL. 

Hon. G. W. Woodman, in Army and Navy Hall, 
Portland, on Sunday, Nov. 19th, gave an account of 
the wonderful restoration by aid of the spirits, of Mr. 
N. M. Woodman of that city, who was very badly 
injured by falling twenty-three feet through the scuttles 
of his store. A synopsis of his statement appeared the 
next day in the Portland papers, and the Boston Jour- 
nal's correspondent furnished that paper with a brief 
account. 

The full particulars of this case appeared in the Ban- 
ner of Light, June 3d 1871, furnished by J. B. Hall 
Esq., of that city. The parties are all highly respec- 
table, and have many friends in Boston, where, as well 
as in Portland, much interest is felt, as the case is one 
of unquestionable spirit power. 

In the "Vital Magnetic Cure" we have explained the 
gift of healing more at length, together with the law of 
electric, magnetic, and spirit-forces affecting human life, 
and their application in the cure of disease ; and in Evans' 
" Mental Cure " the psychological method of treatment is 
clearly and intelligently stated, which supercedes the 
necessity of dwelling upon those topics here. 



204 nature's laws 

According to our observation the practice of using 
opiates for the relief of patients suffering from severe 
pain, has been increasing of late, which seems to us en- 
tirely wrong in many cases. Persons becoming accus- 
tomed to such medicines require more and more in 
quantity to produce the same effect. As it loses its effect 
the system becomes deadened by its use. We remem- 
ber well being called to see a patient who had used 
Morphine to excess, and we had been in the room but 
a few minutes when we felt drowsy by taking on the 
condition of the patient. Does not common sense and 
reason show that such conditions work against Nature? 
On the other hand does not magnetism assist Nature to 
harmonize and vitalize, and thereby eradicate disease? 
We doubt the propriety of such excessive use of opiates 
in cases of sickness, and it seems to us that the most 
essential thing thought of by regular practitioners is to 
relieve, not remove the cause of the disease. When 
magnetism is better understood, lefes of opiates will be 
used. 

Before closino^ the evidence derived from the exercise 
of the healing power, it is proper in this connection to 
insert an answer to a question relative to 

THE ALLEGED CUPIDITY OF HEALERS. 

We have already alluded to the charge, but as this 
opinion was sought from a higher intelligence, we quote 
it from the Banner. 

"We find healing mediums making fifteen and twenty 
dollars per day. Is this not an abuse of the power which 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 205 

they receive from the spirit-knd? The prices charged 
for a few minutes' time place this heavenly blessing be- 
yond the reach of the poor. 

"Ans.— You have a saying amongst you that con- 
tarns much wisdom. It is this : " The love of money is 
the root of evil." These media, being susceptible to 
the mfluence from the higher life, are also susceptible to 
the conditions of this life ; and when once they become 
mediums used publicly and privately by the world at 
large, their needs are largely increased. As all their 
strength, all their life physical is used up by another 
—what you may be pleased to call a divine calling— thay 
have no possible chance of obtaining that which meets 
the necessities of this life in any other way than by set- 
ting a price upon their mediumship. So I shall not 
presume to condemn them ; for, in all human probabil- 
ity were I a mortal, anch should I stand as they stand, I 
should do as they do, because they are held in the inex- 
orable clutch of a power outside of themselves, and be- 
cause most of them are thrown under influences belong- 
ing to this life that have a tendency to lead them down- 
ward mstead of upward— have a tendency to develop all 
the lower conditions of their natures— the'love of money 
the love of power, of place, of fame, of all that this 
world holds great and good. But while you Spiritual- 
ists complam because this condition of things exists be- 
cause of high prices charged by your media, you should 
not forget that you have sometliing of a duty to perform 
toward them. It seems to me to be this : by your good 
deeds, by your prayers, by your sympathy, to lead 
them out of this condition, and to assist them to a more 



206 NATURE^S LAWS 

spiritual one. Instruct them to obtain their livelihood 
from the rich, and not from the poor. That is God's 
justice. I know it is not man justice, but it is Divine 
justice, and ever should be exercised by mortal media. 
Most of them are not so thoroughly developed that 
their guardian spirits can instruct them in these things 
as they would wish to. They make attempts in that 
direction, but they are but attempts, for the medium's 
spirit immediately meets them with opposition ; the 
question is settled at once — they are obliged to retire. 
There are exceptions ; there are some who are willing 
to receive advice from their guardian spirits — who are 
willing to abide by it ; but they are the fortunate class 
of media. Let it be your duty, oh Spiritualists, to ele- 
vate your media, to sustain them by your sympathy, 
your prayers, and just, good lives ; and by-and-by they 
will rise out of this low, material condition, where their 
guardian angels can control them, and deal justly with 
the public through them. 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 207 



THE DUPLEX CHAKACTER OF OPPOSING 
TESTIMONY. . 

In estimating the moral value of the testimony given 
for or against any cause, it is but just and fair that their 
antecedents, the consistency or inconsistency of their 
testimony, the spirit in which they utter it, should all 
be considered. This is the practice among intelligent 
jurors in common affairs. No one who is honest, and 
upright, although mistaken, need fear to have his evi- 
dence fairly weighed in the balance of justice. 

It is well to criticise some of the testimony which has 
been quoted against Spiritualism, in order to ascertain 
how far such testimony militates against the claim that 
it has its foundation in truth. Some of them may 
be quoted against themselves. No one has vociferated 
more fiercely in terms of denunciation than Mr. Knapp, 
yet he has acknowledged the truth of the phenomena^ 
not however with candor, as will be seen by the facts 
given in the California letter subjoined. The moral 
impression he has made upon the community may be 
inferred from remarks which we extract from a Boston 
newspaper. 

"The Elder is evidentlv o^ettinc^ mad, and unless he is 
soothed and conciliated may yet be drawn into the use 
of language which will be unbecoming in "a man of 
God" and inconsistent for a professed follower of "the 
meek and lowly Jesus," who taught that we should " bless 



208 natuee's laws 

those who curse us," and "do good to those who de- 
spitefully use us and persecute us." 

The following from a correspondent of the Banner, 
contains a more reliable statement of the physical man- 
ifestations occurring in presence of the reviler. 



LETTEK FEOM CALIFOENIA. 

I have been reading Elder Knapp's statement to a 
Boston audience of his experience with what he calls the 
devil's demonstrations at the house of Thomas Hook, at 
Stockton, Cal. Without any desire to contradict the 
Elder, or to say that he has mis-stated or omitted any 
important fact concerning the affair, I will, briefly as 
possible, relate what was stated to me by Mr. Hook in 
person. I have known Mr. Hook for about sixteen 
years, and Mrs. Hook when she was Mrs. Greenfield. 
I also had some acquaintance with Mr. Greenfield in his 
life-time. 

A short time after these demonstrations had ceased, 
I met Mr. Hook in the city of Stockton, and, by his 
solicitation, I went to his residence to hear his story of 
the affair and to see the result of the demonstrations. 
He showed me a box of broken dishes, vases and spit- 
toons, that he said had been dashed from shelves, tables, 
etc. , and broken as I saw them. After the water sprink- 
ling on the bed of the child had ceased, the little girl 
(medium, an adopted daughter of the family) saw two 
men in her room, and described them so accurately that 
Mrs. Hook at once recoo^nized her former husband, Mr. 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 209 

Greenfield, and Mr. Hook a deceased uncle, neither of 
whom had the child ever seen in their life-time. Each 
of them gave his name, which confirmed them in the 
belief that the girl really saw what she pretended to see. 
Mr. Hook was then sheriff of San Joaquin County, and 
Mr. Gates spoken of by the Elder was clerk of the 
county. On being questioned, these spirits stated to 
these gentlemen that an indictment for the crime of 
murder against a prominent man of the county would 
be stolen unless it was removed from the files of the 
clerk's office. It was so removed ; and in a few eve- 
nings after, the office was broken into, and the entire 
files of indictments were rumaged and scattered over the 
office. So much for the Elder's devil. Several other 
things were done concerning that affixir, but not worth 
relating here. 

When the Elder arrived, he was invited to the house 
of Mrs. Hook, who was a member of the Baptist 
Church. The Elder proclaimed, with a confident air, 
that it was the devil making the disturbance, and he 
could lay him by prayer ; but before the Elder had fair- 
ly got up steam, things began to fly about the house, 
and kept up such a clatter that the Elder soon weak- 
ened ; and, just as he was on the eve of winding up, a 
spittoon started (without hands) from an adjoining 
room, and landed on the floor close to the Elder, and 
flew into several pieces. This was too much for the El- 
der. He cut short the "Amen," and left the house in 
hot haste. So much for the Elder's success in laying 
the devil. 

Many strange things happened at the house of these 



210 nature's laws 

parties that I cannot relate. I may mention one or two 
singular occurrences : one was the carrying by unseen 
hands, in open daylight, a large, heavy platter of beef 
from the well-house into the front yard, a distance of 
twenty paces, and then dropping it. At another time 
— and I think Elder Knapp was present — when the ta- 
ble was being set with dishes, knives and forks, the 
plates commenced to slide along on the table and hop 
up on each other, the cups and saucers followed suit, 
until all the dishes were closely piled on the centre of 
the table. The corners of thb tablecloth were then gath- 
ered up, as if by the human hand, and brought togeth- 
er, and the whole carried out of the house on the veranda 
and dropped. 

Mr. Greenfield, the deceased husband of Mrs. Hook, 
was for a good many years a Baptist preacher ; but, 
from some cause, he became dissatisfied or disgusted 
with the profession, and retired from the pulpit. Mrs. 
Hook related to me the conduct of the reputed spirit of 
Mr. Greenfield, who, it appears, was the principal ac- 
tor in smashing things about the house, and who was a 
man of violent temper, and what occurred during these 
demonstrations was exactly characteristic of him when 
in anger. These exhibitions of temper were common 
while he was a preacher of the gospel. This is one of 
Elder Knapp's devils. What a compliment to his de- 
ceased brother ! 

I do not know that I violate the confidence of Mrs. 
H. by stating these last-mentioned facts, as she freely 
and voluntarily made the statement here related. Nor 
would I slander the deceased ; but, on the contrary, I 



IN aUMAN LIFE. 211 

will state that he was much respected in Stockton, and 
was understood to be a good moral man, and at one 
time a Justice of the Peace. I state the facts as related 
to me by one who knew him best, to show how silly is 
the devilish conjecture of the Elder. If he really did 
turn devil at death, the Elder will find him a congenial 
companion when he gets over the river ; for who so 
loves to roll the word "devil" under his tongue, as a 
sweet morsel, as this same Elder ? — who so familiar with 
the "devilish" doings of the "devil" as Elder Knapp? 
Did he ever speak in public ten minutes without refer- 
ring in some way to his old companion and wayfaring 
traveller? He says "the devil had an eye on him, and 
knew he was coming to California." Certainly ; and 
didn't the Elder send him ahead as a missionary to open 
the way for his " hell-fire " and "devil's" doctrine? — and 
didn't the Elder make use of this story in his own way, 
all over the State, to scare children, women and soft- 
headed men ? There can be no doubt of the intimacy 
of the Elder and the "old deceiver," since they go hand 
in hand ; and in part consideration of the old fellow's 
services, he makes him more powerful than the Almigh- 
ty, and tickles his vanity by making his hearers believe 
that he is omnipotent and omnipresent, and can influ- 
ence man where God and the powers of heaven have no 
earthly show. R. B. H. 

A confusion of names having made an erroneous im- 
pression on the minds of persons abroad, in regard to 
the identity of Mr. Hatch, who was the victim of scur- 
rilous abuse from the " Elder," we here make the expla- 



212 nature's laws 

nation. The person spoken of in the scandalous lecture 
delivered in Tremont Temple during the revival melee, 
is not the Hatch vs^ho was once an advocate of Spiritual- 
ism, and who figured in the farcical proceedings in 
Cooper Institute ; but a respectable Unitarian Minister 
doing city missionary work, who courageously stood at 
the door distributing religious tracts to counteract the 
effect of the peculiar religious teaching which formed 
the substance of the lecture, and similar harangues. 

The abusive language and slanderous charges brought 
out a defence from a number of Spiritualists who had 
been blessed with the "gifts" and their friends, who ad- 
dressed letters of reproof to the evil-tongued revivalist, 
calling his attention to the libellous character of the 
falsehoods, for which he could be held amenable. But 
he probably thought that discretion was the better part 
of valor, and has retired to the security .of his farm, 
where he can enjoy the pecuniary profit of his vulgarity. 

So also is it with Mr. Fulton. The bitterness of his 
hostility against the cause and its adherents over-reaches 
its mark, destroying his influence, when addressing can- 
did persons who fail to see the application of his evil re- 
proaches. They attribute it to bigotry, and are led to 
inquire for themselves, rather than driven away from an 
investiojation. 

He has a sister in the spirit- world, who recently sent 
him the following message, at one of the Banner of 
Light Circles : 

"I am here to request a favor of ray brother, Eev. 
Justin D. Fulton, preaching. in Tremont Temple in 
your city. It is this ; that he will give the people his 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 213 

views concerning the twelfth chapter of First Corinth- 
ians. 

J know he has no faith in the return of the spirit, but 
I also know he will have, for there are hidden springs 
in his being, which, when they gush forth, will bear 
him on to spiritual knowledge whether he will or no. 

I shall not be weary though he repulses me again and 
again. If I feel that it is my duty under God to return, 
I shall do so, trusting the consequences with that God 
who watches over me, and watches over him. I am 
Clara Fulton Pope." 

What of Dr. Hammond, who has written a book 
against Spiritualism, denying the facts which his fellow- 
opponents have been compelled to acknowledge. A se- 
vere but just criticism upon the demerits of the book by 
the pen of a competent reviewer was published some 
months ago. A flat denial of these facts is as absurd 
now as it would be to tell every man and woman he 
should meet that they had totally lost the senses of sight 
and hearing. 

It will be remembered that this same Dr. Hammond 
during the late civil war, through the influence of some 
well meaning citizens, who are now ashamed of their 
recommendation, received the appointment of Surgeon 
General of the U. S. Taking advantage of his official 
position to accomplish selfish ends, he was aiTcsted and 
brought before a Court-martial on chars^es involvins: 
reputation for truth, honesty and fair dealing. The tri- 
al lasted nearly four months, and* resulted in peremptory 
dismissal from office, and irretrievable disgrace. It 



214 nature's laws 

pained the heart of our late good President to be com- 
pelled to issue the following official order. 

"The record, proceedings, findings and sentence of 
the Court in the foregoing case are approved, and it is 
ordered that Brigadier General William A. Hammond, 
Surgeon general of the U. S. Army, be dismissed from 
the service, and be forever disqualified from holding any 
office of honor or trust under the government of the 
United States." 

A. Lincoln. 
August 18, 1864. 

This erudite gentleman is represented as saying that 
the movement of tables and chairs is against the force 
of gravity, and due to hallucination, legerdemain, and 
fraud. Commenting upon this, one of the ablest writers 
exclaims "Oh, science ! science ! do let us retain some 
little confidence in common sense, which has long been 
teaching that whenever we moved our chairs and table 
with our physical hands, we did it 'against the force of 
gravity.' It seems, then, if common sense be right 
and Dr. Hammond right, that every time we ever sat 
down to our dinner table, our chair was moved up to it 
by either hallucination, legerdemain or actual fraud. 
Though we are three score and eight, we are not yet so 
old as to discard truths and facts because they are new 
to us." 

Some of the opponents who have exhibited themselves 
as exposers have two faces, either of which they turn to 
the gaze of the public as caprice suits them, or rather 
as their improvised audiences arc willing to pay for. 



IN HUMAN LIFE. . 215 

Among such are Bly, Von Vleck, H. Melville Fay, and 
similar double dealers. Having mediumistic powers, 
they are at one time holding seances, at another getting 
up a show, and denouncing mediuuiship as imposture, 
apparently oblivious to the fact that both classes of lis- 
teners can readily detect the iraposters. 

Bly Vras controlled by the spirit of his uncle, a noted 
blind phrenologist, to examine phrenological character- 
istics, and did it in a perfectly satisfactory manner. 
But as the old gentleman was one of the earlier and 
honest Spiritualists, he must have felt ashamed of the 
tricky side of his protege. 

Barnum, the notorious expositor and practitioner of 
humbugs consorted with Von Vleck to make a show of 
Spiritualism at his museum. 

One of the latest of these feats was performed in a 
Methodist meeting by a person who had been an advo- 
cate of Spiritualism for years and had given tests of 
spirit identity before associations of Spiritualists, then 
turning Methodist took the same method of proving 
that what she had previously done was felse ; yet though 
this new departure was stimulated by the cheap charge 
of fifteen cents a head, there were but few hearers. 
Catch-penny traps are not always profitable to the ven- 
dor, even if he includes his principles in the sale. 

Thomas L. Harris has pursued an erratic course, up- 
on which we find the following criticism published : "A 
friend who has recently visited this eccentric genius at 
his community home near Buffalo did not form a more 
favorable opinion of him and his present enterj^rize than 
we did of his Mount;;in Cove movement, many years 



216 nature's laws 

ago, which went up soon for want of funds and faith, 
both of which are abundant in his present experiment. 

The rich vein of poetry which formerly ran through 
him to enrich the early spiritual papers is entirely ex- 
hausted, or is perverted into a sewer for the waste wa- 
ters of Christian bigotry, of which he seems now to have 
a remarkable share. The stream of eloquence too, 
that in the early days of Spiritualism, thrilled so many 
hearts, has turned into a channel little better or more 
profitable to the race than that of any bigoted secta- 
rian. We are sorry for Bro. Harris, but not for his 
earthly period, as the wealth he has secured will enable 
him to procure earthly comforts ; but the richer treas- 
ures of the other life, which he has lost by his course, 
will cause him many years of regret and sorrow. He 
seems to have been too weak a vessel to contain the 
new wine, or else he had not got all the old theology 
out before the spirits poui*ed in the new, but retained 
enough to spoil the pure Spiritual Philosophy, causing 
it to sour in his brain. We thought him a little crazy 
in the Mountain Cove movement, but as he partially 
recovered from that, we had hopes of his entire recov- 
ery ; but he could not bear the flattery and praise which 
his inspiration and eloquence drew around him, and he 
soon began to suspect himself to be an " especial mes- 
senger of the Lord, " superior to his fellow-men. 

For all useful purposes to the race, Bro. Harris 
seems entirely lost, having crawled into a community 
shell, where he deals out the orders of Christ to the 
family, and supposes, or makes them believe, he is the 
medium of direct communication with that part of the 



m hujvian life. 217 

Godhead which on earth was, and is, the Christ. It 
would seem, at this day, that no sane man or woman 
could fall in such blind superstition as that of Bro. Har- 
ris and John Noyes of Oneida, and several others, more 
or less distinguished ; but we are still more surprised at 
any families who possessed wealth, and the means of 
education which it brings, who should be so deluded as 
to follow after such fanaticisms. Yet this is the history 
of the race. Thei-e have ever been some to fall into 
every new scheme of salvation and redemption, and 
wealth is not always security against ignorance and de- 
lusion. 

Elsewhere we have mentioned Eev H. W. Beecher 
in connection with this subject. 

Although Mr. B. does not openly advocate Spiritu- 
alism, he recognizes the value of the services of clair- 
voyant healers, and is not ashamed to employ them in 
his family, nor to recommend the vital magnetic force 
as a healing power to his friends. It is a current re- 
port that in his societj^ there are many avowed believers, 
and that responses are given to his teachings by raps 
and other demonstrations. 

In conducting a funeral service recently, Mr. B. 
urged the mourners to rejoice in the accomplished vic- 
tory of the departed ; to thank God for what work 
he had done so well, for its great results and for the no- 
ble, manly, sweet Christian demonstrations of a useful 
life, and not to think of him hereafter as one reposing 
beneath the grass and the flowers, but rather listening 
for a voice from the angel, as they looked at the grave, 
saying to them ''He is not here, he is risen." 



218 nature's laws 

Eev. G. H. Hep worth is strongly medlumistic, and 
perhaps is not fully accountable' for all his acts and 
words. His mother enjoyed spirit-communication with 
his father for many years previous to her exit from earth- 
life, and Mr. H. has often been heard to express his be- 
lief that his father did really communicate with his 
idolized mother. The last time we saw her, she was 
playing the piano, and at the same time improvising a 
communication to us. She kept up spiritual circles, and 
her friends enjoyed spiritual communication through h*er 
organization as well as through others : and after her 
departure, Mr. H. kept the rooms open for that pur- 
pose in remembrance of her. It is very questionable 
whether he will enjoy with equal satisfaction the fruits 
of his late summersault. 

In a funeral sermon, after Mr. Hep worth had cited ca- 
ses of mediumship in the Scriptures, the case of Joan 
of Arc, Socrates, Luther, Swedenborg and Indian med- 
icine men, he remarked, "I have been greatly interested 
in the new sect or denomination that has come into 
existence in the last few years. Its members call them- 
selves Spiritualists. Fifteen years ago they were 
laughed at, now who laughs at them? Then, few had 
ever heard of such a system of doctrines, now they num- 
ber their converts by the millions, and these converts 
belong to all classes of society, from the poorest to the 
richest and most learned. They have thirty journals 
devoted to the propagation of their faith. They have a 
library of five hundred volumes advocating their secta- 
rianism. 

"The moment your eye glances over these figures, you 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 219 

ask, why is this? The answer is plain ; first because the 
doctrine of communion has put off its oppressive robes 
of selfishness and personal aggrandizement, and put on 
the white garments of good news to the world ; and 
second, because nothing is more evident to my mind 
than that the world longs to believe and needs to believe 
something of the sort ; it is essential to our religious 
well-being. 

"The very minute that terrible desolation enters a house 
and robs the family of a loved member, leaving as a 
memento of the past only the vacant chair, the holiest 
part of our human nature looks up to Heaven with a 
dim vague expectation, with a belief that has never ta- 
ken a definite shape, perhaps that though we cannot 
see them, the^ do see and know us." 



SEANCES— CONDITIONS, AND RULES FOR 
THEIR GOVERNMENT. 

The word seayice, borrowed from the French, means 
simply a sitting or session. It has in a great measure 
superceded the more homely word circle. 

In visiting a place where a circle is to be held, the 
inquirer, it is supposed, has a definite object in view, 
whatever that may be. Whether he w^ill' be successful 
or not, depends partly upon the motive which prompts 
him,' and partly upon circumstances not altogether with- 
in his power to control. Both are involved in condi- 
tions necessary to success, and these conditions are now 



220 nature's laws 

80 well understood from long experience and observa- 
tion, that specific rules have been deduced for the gov- 
ernment of the sitters. 

In the first place it is essential that harmony should 
prevail among all the persons in the company, and a 
willingness to receive whatever may be given in the way 
of manifestations, each one being willing to yield in a 
state of passivity, for the time being to any influence 
which may be attempted to be exercised over them by 
the invisible power. 

The manifestations may be either physical or mental ; 
it is seldom that both kinds occur at the same time. 
Where a variety of well developed mediums are pres- 
ent, this may occur. If the seeker is about to visit a 
place where the physical only are knowiJto occur, and 
is at the same time opposed to them, he should re- 
main away, as his presence would disturb the harmony, 
thereby destroying the conditions, and probably entirely 
prevent thereby the expected result. The medium 
who is susceptible to the control of a spirit who 
has passed beyond the veil, is in the same degree con- 
trollable by the psychological power of a positive will, 
exercised by a spirit yet in human form ; so that noth- 
ing can be expected beyond what emanates from the 
controlling mind. It is unwise therefore to encourage 
skeptics to attend a circle when their will is more posi- 
tive than the spirit mind which usually controls that 
circle. Candor, fairness, and a passive state of will on 
the part of such investigators are pre-requisites. It is 
of less consequence, when the controlling power of the 
spirit is known to be positive, and almost indomitable. 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 221 

This is the case with many of those who produce the 
physical manifestations. 

He who has reached a fore-gone conclusion on any 
subject, is not in a proper state of mind to investigate. 
The truth is not in him, neither does he desire it. The 
Scripture enjoins seekers^ after truth in the words "seek 
and ye shall find ; knock and it shall be opened unto you." 
Determined opposition is at once perceived by the sen- 
sitive medium, although not a word may have been 
said. Persons carry with them the record of their life 
indelibly impressed, and the medium is enabled to see 
their interior condition. Facts of whatever nature, so- 
cial or moral, political or commercial, are reflected as if 
in a mirror. Those who have enjoyed the smiles of 
fortune, and lived in ease and comfort, as well as those 
who have had to struggle for bread in the battle of life, 
have brought before them their personal history and 
experience, which startles their inner consciousness just 
as was experienced by the Jewish woman at the well, 
quoted in another place. Secret doings are brought to 
light. It is not surprising that the dishonest merchant, 
the falsifier, and the evil doer in any sphere of life should 
become alarmed at the display of such a panorama be- 
fore him. Discretion is used as to the revelation of the 
facts shown to the medium. If they affect his moral 
status, they are shown to him as an affectionate parent 
would chide and guide to happier conditions, his erring 
child ; otherwise they are as confidential as in ordinary 
intercourse in private life. A case of this kind came 
under our observation about three years ago. A young 
man who was a stranger in this section of country visit- 



222 nature's laws 

ed a ladj who had this remarkable power well devel- 
oped. She was engaged with a room full of company 
and could not immediately give him a sitting, but was 
impelled to tell him in presence of her other visitors that 
he had been associating with an ill-disposed companion, 
describing the young man thus designated, his habits, 
and the manner he had employed to entice her visitor to 
places which were unsuited to his unfoldment, and to 
fit him for a higher plane of life. She added " There is 
a lady who is in the form, that you have neglected — 
you have not done right in the case." The visitor ac- 
knowledged the truth of the statement, confessing that 
the young man alluded to had done as was described, 
and that he had neglected to write to his mother for two 
years. We heard the entire conversation, and was struck 
with the candid acknowledgement of the visitor. So 
also have we known many persons who had been living 
a degraded and miserable life saved by a similar inter- 
position of either father or mother, brother or sister. 

For those who are not familiar with spirit manifesta- 
tions, a few practical rules are necessary to be ob- 
served. 

1. The seeker should first go alone, and sit with the 
medmm in the same way as if asking counsel of a phy- 
sician or a lawyer. By this means the medium avoids 
commingling the magnetic spheres, as would be the case, 
if a third person were present. Friends often wish to 
accompany the inquirer to gratify curiosity, harmless in 
itself, but acting as a disturbing element under such 
circumstances, and preventing clear communications. 
The same applies to the healing process, as may be seen 



IN HIBIAN LIFE. 223 

by reference to the pages of "Vital Magnetic Cure." 
2. Sit in a passive condition, waiting patiently for 
whatever the spirit sees fit to communicate, which will 
be given as the need may be, whether of a material or 
spiritual nature, and not necessarily as the inquirer may 
desire. 

3. The medium should take no thought of what may be 
said, or consider whether it will please or displease, but 
speak as the impulse is given, provided he or she is suf- 
ficiently developed to feel confidence in the gifts that 
have been bestowed. Many feel a lack of this confi- 
dence, and allow themselves to fall into an anxious state 
of mind, lest they should fail to give satisfaction to their 
patrons. This should be avoided by all, whatever the 
phase of mediumship — speaking, writing, healing, or 
giving tests in any way. Let the gifts be exercised nat- 
urally, without restraint. Many go to consult mediums 
for the material benefit they can derive. It is not wise 
to run to them for advice upon every trivial thing, for 
upon most of earthly affairs we know sufficiently well of 
ourselves, and can gain no additional light by seeking in 
that way. We lose our own identity by so doing, and 
diminish our influence and usefulness. Would infor- 
mation be asked of persons in earth-life, upon all points 
which we refer to those in spirit-life ? We think not^ 
and it is not to be supposed that those who have gone 
to a higher sphere can be interested in minor afiairs, 
which we can just as well settle for ourselves. Some 
seek advice solely for the purpose of accumulating 
wealth. The better spirits decline such advice, as not 
being conductive to the highest enjoyment of this life. 



224 nature's laws 

They know that hoarding is a propensity very diffi- 
cult to out-grow, after leaving the body. The plans of 
such are, therefore, generally thwarted, and after a few 
lessons they gain wisdom, and begin to look upon Spir- 
itualism more for the good they can do through its teach- 
ings, than to gratify selfishness. 

4. How to form a circle. Let as many investigators 
who are harmonious and likely to attract similar influ- 
ences, as it is desired to bring together, be seated at a 
convenient distance from each other, joining hands. 
It is generally better to place positive and negative per- 
sons alternately. Sometimes the sexes are thus seated 
—a male and a female alternately, but there are many 
positive females, and negative males. If a person in the 
circle has been developed in such a manner as to be able 
to analyze the chemical forces of the various persons in 
the company, they can by that means be arranged so as 
to secure the best manifestations. After sitting quietly 
for a short time, some susceptible person may suggest a 
change of position, to facilitate the object. This being 
done, and all quiet as before, the magnetic forces will 
be harmonized : then the hands should be separated. 
The influence will be concentrated on the medium. 

If a developed medium be present, the spirit will ar- 
range the seating of the compnay ; but if the object of 
the session is development, the rules given should be fol- 
lowed. 

We have long since ceased to sit in circles. They 
are useful in attracting power to a sensitive ; but a few 
friends whose magnetism is adapted to each other, or 
even one magnetizer with suitable adaptation being pres- 



IN HmiAN LIFE. 225 

ent will do as much for a partially developed medium 
as can be gained by sitting in a circle for some length 
of time. Our best mediums never could or would sit 
in promiscous circles, but were developed in a quietj 
way alone, or with a few special friends present, or 
through a severe sickness. One thus developed is more 
independent than those developed by circles, furthermore 
the latter require for a long time the sustaining power 
of the circle, in order to accomplish much. 

Most mediumistic persons who are frail and delicate 
are cured of disease and developed by magnetic treat- 
ment. It is not advisable to push forward the devel- 
oping process by such means more rapidly than they 
grow interiorly. It is better that development should 
take place first interiorly, then exteriorly ; for thereby 
there is a protection against influences that are injurious 
to many negative mediums. 

No two are affected alike, consequently no rule can 
be invariable to bring about a good development spirit- 
ually. But we can say to the mediumistic live right, 
and aspire to the society of good angels, and they will 
surely unfold you in their own good time. 

The promiscous circle among Spiritualists has been 
superceded by the parlor seance, where not much re- 
gard is paid to the arrangement of the persons convened. 
There is generally present, a well developed medium 
who can enter a room full of company promiscously as- 
sembled, if necessary, and exercise the gift of speaking 
or any other phase without embarassment. Those who 
desire tests, employ a medium for tliat purpose ; if 
teaching is wanted, one is selected who has been devel- 



226 nature's laws 

opedvon that plane, and so of physical manifestations of 
whatever kin(J. If the spirits see a medium whose fac- 
ulties they desire to exercise, they will make it known ; 
then the person indicated must meet them with a wil- 
lingness to be controlled, by remaining passive, before 
harmony can be established, and the effort rendered suc- 
cessful. 

Physical phenomena convince those who are materi- 
alistic, and exacting in reference to tangible proofs. 
With the progressed, they have had their day, but that 
day for the masses is not yet over. They have been of 
immense service as the harbins^er of truth in the form of 
mental manifestations. Many materialists have been 
convinced thereby of the existence of an invisible, but 
intelligent power, and of the immortality of man. 

The truth and s^ood resultins: has not however been 
unmixed, because of the palming off of imitations with 
the exhibition of genuine phenomena. In some cases 
the medium has not been to blame. Some spirits after 
going out from the earthly form liave been the occasion 
of charges of deception against innocent mediums. If 
'they can do a good act, they have the power to do its 
opposite, as when they exercised the faculty of will while 
they were inhabitants of earth. If investigators would 
take this fact into consideration, they would not fear 
spirits after, more than they had done before their change 
from one sphere to the other. 

A word more to mediums. If they will live accord- 
ing to the teachings of spirits from the higher spheres, 
they will soon become of themselves a power to control 
spirits on a lower plane than themselves ; and there is 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 227 

no need to fear injury from those of higher planes. It 
is only those who have not yet grown up to the level of 
our condition of life that can tempt us into downward 
paths. Those who are superior to us in wisdom and 
goodness will rejoice to meet our aspirations, elevating 
us to the joys of a higher and purer life. 

There is a peculiar phase of mediumship to which no 
allusion has been made, and which has proved a stum- 
blino: block to beofinners. Mediums often see and de- 
cribe spirits still living in the earthly form, giving their 
names, and the particular circumstances occurring at 
the time of the clairvoyant view, personifying them 
so that they can be recognized, although many miles 
away. "What a story they tell me," says the skeptic, 
"they give me the name of a friend still living. It is a 
delusion !" A medium is controlled for some years, 
it may be, receiving advice and information, and at 
last finds that the alleged spirit is still in the earth form. 

This presents a question difficult to solve. The only 
explanation which occurs to us is that a spirit has as- 
sumed the name of the friend, as is done in earth-life, 
where a person falsely represents another, deceiving as 
it were, "the very elect." This is done sometimes, ap- 
parently, without their being conscious of it. 

A curious phenomenon seen at both public and private 
circles is worthy of record, although already known to 
Spiritualists, viz : the sudden appearance of the name 
of a spirit in raised letters on the arm of the medium. 
This has been done repeatedly in the persons of Charles 
Foster, Mrs. Friend, and Mr. Colchester ; thus identi- 
fying a departed friend of some one present. In one 



228 nature's laws 

instance, in the case of Mr. F. a pistol was marked on 
the arm in addition, and it proved that it was by a pis- 
tol shot that the communicating spirit was transferred 
from material to spirit-life. We have had sittings with 
all three, and received the same proof, twice after writ- 
ing names on paper and rolling into pellets ; once with- 
out writing, and in no case where the soirit was known 
to the medium. 



MISCELLANEOUS FACTS IN SPIRITUAL 
EXPERIENCE. 

Many facts occur in the lives of individuals which are 
of general interest, and should extend beyond the limited 
sphere in which they originate. A few items of a mis- 
cellaneous character, belonging to Spiritualistic experi- 
ence, but which cannot be conveniently classified, are 
here collated. 

As we come into our world without our knowledge 
or consent, welcome or unwelcome, and have duties im- 
posed upon us as soon as w^e arrive at an age of respon- 
sibility, it behooves us to learn all we can of the laws 
which govern life's phenomena, while on our earthly 
pilgrimage. We often hear persons who are called 
Christians say " there are many things we do not under- 
stand, and God, for a wise purpose has withheld the 
knowledge of them from us ; and the seeming myster- 
ies will at the last day be solved." But it affords no 
consolation to a thinkinsr beinsf to sit down, without at 



IN HIBIAN LIFE. 529 

least trying to understand all that concerns him. Spir- 
itualism, if true, is part of the decree of life, which must 
be accepted, as is the fact of the sun, moon and stars, 
and the effects of electric, magnetic and spiritual for- 
ces. 

We have quoted the discovery of crime through a me- 
dium. A case in point occurred in Boston. A young 
man, belonging to the Baptist church whose pastor is 
one of the bitterest opposers of Spiritualism was in the 
employ of a member of another evangelical church. A 
person with mediumistic power, but not a professional 
medium, called at the office of the employer, and although 
not seeing the young man said " You have a young man at 
work for you who has an old head on young shoulders," 
describing him so accurately that he was easily distin- 
guished from others in the establishment, and advised 
his being watched. In a short time he was caught 
stealing forty dollars. The employer sent for his min- 
ister who came with a deacon, and advised that the cul- 
prit be kept, or he would go to hell. "Perhaps you 
will change your opinion by talking with him " said the 
employer. They took the young man into an upper 
chamber, and asked him to kneel down and pray, but 
he refused. They then came down and told the employ- 
er that he had already gone to hell, and they thought 
nothing more could be done for him. He had also ap- 
propriated to his own use money belonging to the Sun- 
day school connected with the church. We were present 
when the spirit through the medium gave the caution. 
We believe the money was subsequently returned, and 
through this check on his dishonest practices, he was 



230 

saved from a dishonorable course in earth-life, and un- 
happy experience in the future. 

Spiritualists are by their enemies charged with law- 
lessness. We would not shield a wrong-doer from the 
consequences of evil deeds. It would be useless to at- 
tempt it, for the transgressor of law cannot evade its 
penalty under any circumstances. Neither would we 
recriminate, but there are facts enough to show that 
religious pretensions are not proof of virtue and hones- 
ty. Jesus said that none were perfect — "no, not one." 
We knew a methodist minister who had preached for 
years, and afterwards entered into mercantile business. 
Almost his first act was to prepare for failure by trans- 
ferring his property, and the end soon came. There 
was clear evidence of dishonesty, yet some who had been 
swindled joined with others to aid him in contending by 
law with those who had been fortunate enough to see 
through the operations of the reverend merchant, and se- 
cured the payment of their claims. 

Another reverend of the Baptist persuasion was em- 
ployed during the week in an office where money was 
received, and sums were missed. The proprietor sus- 
pecting him of appropriating the funds to his own use, 
took proper measures and caught him. The case was 
not prosecuted, but submitted to the arbitration of three 
persons, one a minister, another a merchant, both gone 
to tlie spirit-world, and ourself. The decision was that 
the money should be refunded, and the embezzler leave 
the city, and try to be "converted." At the trial he 
presented numerous letters written "by the love of Je- 
sus" &c. Some years afterwards we heard him preach 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 231 

in New York on "Christ and him crucified." We 
thought if he could only save men from stealing, we 
would not put a stone in his way, and left him undis- 
turbed. 

It happens sometimes that persons receive a statement 
through one medium, which afterwards appears to be 
corroborated through another. But this is not always 
proof. We have known some to be attended by a spir- 
it or a band of spirits, who on coming in presence of a 
sensitive, would get a mere repetition of what had been 
said before. It is the same statement whether true or 
false, from the same controlling power, and not one a 
corroboration of the other. 

The question is sometimes asked why some good, re- 
liable mediums are always poor, while others no more 
sincere or reliable are liberally rewarded. The follow- 
ing answer to such a question asked by a person styling 
himself an earnest seeker after truth, from one of the 
higher intelligences gives an explanation. 

A. — This earnest seeker after truth is as ignorant of 
the true philosophy of Spiritualism — of spiritual mani- 
festations — as are the majority of these seekers, wheth- 
er earnest, honest, or otherwise. They can't seem to 
rid themselves of the idea that the spirit-world is inhab- 
ited only by the pure and the good, when the fact is, it 
is inhabited by all classes of intelligence. The evil, 
the undeveloped spirit has just as much power, and, 
under many circumstances, more power to return than 
has the just, the well-developed spirit. 

It should be understood that there is a law of chemi- 
cal forces underlying all physical life, and acting through 



232 nature's laws 

physical life. Jesus understood this when he said that 
the poor should lose even that thej had, but the rich 
should continue to gain riches. Now, it is a well un- 
derstood scientific fact with us, that thej who are able 
to attract to themselves the riches of this world have 
the attracting chemical power in their own physical com- 
position, and they will be rich, in spire of all adverse 
circumstances. The poor have not this attracting pow- 
er, and they will be poor, in spite of all fortunate cir- 
cumstances. The old adage, "Like attracts like, " is 
divinely and humanly true. Those persons who are 
poor, who are poorly supplied with the comforts of this 
world, if they attract any spirits to them, it is likely to 
be a class that correspond with them in physical condi- 
tion, such as are unable to lead them into w^ealth. 
There are various degrees of this chemical force, this 
power of attracting wealth. Some persons possess it 
in a great degree. Your countryman, George Pea- 
body, possessed it to a very large extent. He could 
gain wealth almost with the turning of his hand. Oth- 
ers possess it to a less extent. Each one gains wealth 
according to the attractive power that exists within his 
own physical composition. This is a scientific fact, 
recognized in our life, which, by-and-by, the scientists 
of earth wdll take up and prove. Until then, it must 
remain as a mere assertion on our part. This "earnest 
seeker after truth " tells us that he has a belief in an all- 
wise and good God. A belief in a good and perfect 
God inspires faith in the manifestations of God in every 
thing by which we are surrounded, in the inner or the 
outer life. If God takes note of and cares for the fall- 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 233 

ing sparrow, to my mind, he will not forget to care for 
his poor as well as his rich. Jesus said to some of his 
friends, "The poor you will have with you always" — 
a sublime prophecy of the condition of Nature. There 
will always be poor ; not that the earth does not furnish 
enough for all, but that the all- wise Spirit of Life, in 
organizing and making up these physical constitutions, 
has made them all to differ. The differences so exist- 
ing, in some lead to poverty, in others lead to wealth; 
but the certainty of happiness at some condition of being 
the soul always understands. It is not the inner life 
that makes complaint against its Maker, but it is the 
outer life — the part that has been educated in the igno- 
rance and folly of this life ; while in the soul-life of every 
individual there is trust in God. 

The radicalism of some of our speaking mediums is 
occasionally objected to, even by reformers. But we 
think it is good in its order, as the pioneer work. The 
heavy plough which tears up sods and roots is necessary 
to break up new ground for improved culture ; then the 
seed can be sown for a better growth, and thus is prep- 
tation made for progress onward in this life, and its con- 
tinuance in the next. In this work each should do his 
part : nor can every hindrance be at once removed ; for 
all change and permanent growth is gradual. Some 
advise the entire rooting out of tares while the wheat is 
growing ; but there is danger of both being destroyed to- 
gether. The developed should assist the undeveloped to 
a higher and better condition of life, and when the sift- 
ing comes, there will be less of chaff to separate. The 



234 natuiie's laws 

barrier of exclusiveness is not needed. Truth and ris^ht 
will at last prevail. 

Philanthrophic mediums would be glad to be in a 
condition to give seances free. Some are so sensitive 
that when money is mentioned as a compensation, they 
shrink from it, and were it not that their necessities 
compel them to receive it, they would work for the cause 
with much more force and efficiency. If they could be 
furnished with good dwellings and supported as teachers 
of Theology are, so as to be free from pecuniary trou- 
ble, the communications would be clearer and unmixed 
with individualisms. Those with whom wealth is not 
the first object, will doubtless enjoy a higher reward in 
spirit-life. 

It would be but just that a reasonable per centage of 
sitters should be allowed by the prosperous mediums an* 
opportunity to receive communications from spirit friends 
free, as is the practice among physicians. Unfortunate 
persons, even of liberal culture, who are destitute of pe- 
cuniary means, are deterred from seeking a message, for 
want of the two dollar fee. 

Doubtless the record of individual earth life will be 
taken as the standard of merit or demerit m the future 
life, and that will determine each one's place in the order 
of progression. Every act is daguerreotyped, and may 
be read with as much ease by the developed spirit, as if 
in a printed book, and sometimes this can be done by 
spirits in the earth form. If this be true, oh Hypocrite I 
what is your position ? 

There is some intrinsic goodness in human nature, 
hence although bigotry stalks abroad, it is not every 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 235 

minister who is intolerant. We once heard a methodist 
minister in a western city say, affer receiving magnetic 
treatment, that it would pay his society to employ a 
magnetizer to magnetize him, as they would get better 
sermons thereby. He called on the magnetizer the fol- 
lowing day, and the subject of Spiritualism being men- 
tioned, a lady present remarked that she had become 
convinced that her daughter then in the spirit world, 
could, when conditions were favorable, come back and 
communicate with her. She was a member of an evan- 
gelical church, and had some fear of endangering her 
standino^ therein. The lansruaore and sentiments of the 
communications were of such a high spiritual tone that 
the minister became quite interested, remarking ''If that 
is Spiritualism let me have more of it, and if the church 
to which you belong objects to your remaining, for be- 
lieving in such teachings, you can find a home in my 
church." Great numbers are precisely in this embarras- 
sing position. Prejudice is so strong that they are afraid 
to express their convictions freely. 

Still, liberty of conscience is gaining ground. Min- 
isters called evangelical, sometimes preach as good spir- 
itual discourses as we have heard from those who are 
the open advocates of Spiritualism. We have heard 
one of them say " We pity the soul that joins the church 
under religious excitement, as in revival meetings," and 
another when giving an invitation to partake of the 
*' Lord's supper" remark that it was for those who felt 
the need of it, but as for himself, he considered it only 
a means to an end, and had outgrown it as a com- 
mand. 



236 nature's laws 

Others are leading their congregations out of empty 
forms into substance, and they embrace the spiritualistic 
faith as rapidly as they are prepared to receive it. These 
teachers think that by giving them food adapted to their 
wants, they are accomplishing a greater work than if 
they preached the whole truth. Each must be his own 
judge of such matters. There is more proneness to 
error in believing too much than too little. 

True Spiritualists as a general fact, do not care so 
much for money as for truth. Jesus taught simplicity 
in dress, diet, and all external, worldly things. He 
knew that money was good only for the supply of the 
necessary means of support. Did he ever receive mon- 
ey for magnetic treatment ? He worked for nothing 
except what he had gained in spirit. He of course was 
supported in his mission free of expense. His precept 
was "As ye have freely received, freely give." 

But it is not the part of wisdom to follow literally the 
advice that we should take no thought for the morrow. 
Mediums are not passed over Railroads free or at half- 
fare, as are all grades of clergymen. They must pay 
hotel bills and other unavoidable expenses ; hence if 
they have no fixed salary, and give their time to the 
service, they must take fees, or give up the work. 
Modest and unassuming ones have suffered by neglecting 
to require reasonable compensation. What can a spir- 
it from the land where material needs are no longer felt, 
accomplish through a medium whose nervous system is 
harrassed by anxiety to obtain means wherewith to pay 
high rent, and indispensable food and raiment? Relig- 
ious teachers, placed over churches have generally been 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 237 

cared for, In these respects, and are at ease, which ena- 
bles them to follow any line of thought untrammelled. 

The wealthy Spiritualists have it in their power to do 
good by enabling mediums in needy circumstances to 
employ their gifts with much greater efficiency, by build- 
ing hospitals for the sick in mind and soul , and asylums 
for other sufferers, as well as in other practical ways. 
If they could be aroused to active benevolence, using 
their surplus means for such noble ends, they would not 
lose their reward. 

In regard to the grade of spirits which are attracted 
to investigators, we are satisfied that it depends very 
much upon themselves. If they have good aspirations 
they will attract to them spirits of an elevated order, 
and will progress to higher, happier and holier conditions. 
If they cater to the grosser and undeveloped spirits, al- 
lowing their organization to be used for base purposes, 
they will be degraded to a lower level, and are in dan- 
ger of sinking, by perverse habits, to the depths of in- 
famy. The law governing these things need not be 
mistaken, for it is uniform in its application and inva- 
riable. 

There has been an indisposition on the part of scien- 
tific men to engage in the discussion of Spiritualism. 
This is due in part probably to the materialistic tenden- 
cies of some branches of Natural Science. Learning 
was for a long time under the exclusive control of the 
church, aud even now there is a strong disposition on 
the part of theologians to control the institutions of 
learning, and the methods of culture. One extreme be- 



238 nature's laws 

gets another, and when it comes to a choice between 
bowing to the authority of the church in matters of sci- 
ence, or rejecting her dictum altogether, the liberal-mind- 
ed investigator discards her claijus. Something is to be 
attributed to the misappropriation of terms, and the dis- 
position to under-value attainments in science, on the 
part of many Spiritualists. Extravagance of assump- 
tion and the dragging in of side issues have driven away 
some who would have willingly inquired further, ^ut 
religious bigotry has had more to do with it than any 
thing else. 

It has however been admitted within the domain of 
science, and good, able and honest men have risked their 
reputation and pecuniary means in its investigation, and 
after arriving at favorable conclusions, by engaging in 
its advocacy. 

When a person who has been distinguished in any 
way, speaks a strong word against Spiritualism, it is 
quoted by the stand-stills in triumph. They do not stop 
to consider the motive that has prompted it, so as to es- 
timate fairly its value, which might result in its being 
worth nothing. At best it could but show that people 
differ ; as we might quote on the other side such names 
as Judge Edmonds, the jurist and advocate, Robert Dale 
Owen, the philosopher, statesman and diplomatist. Gov. 
Talmadge, Dr. John Piermont, the sage, poet and di- 
vine, Epes Sargent, Prof. Mapes, Elizabeth Barrett 
Browning, William and Mary Howitt, Baron Von 
Reichenbach, Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hall, Anna Cora 
Mo watt, with a vast host of others, quite as distin- 
guished. 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 239 

Added to these names, we now have that of Yon 
Fichte, the German philosopher, son of the celebrated 
author, and the compeer of Kant. The following copy 
of his letter is worth preserving. 

My Dear Sir : Accept my warmest thanks for Hare's 
work, which, had you not sent it to me, would proba- 
bly have escaped my notice. I made myself acquainted 
with its contents without delay, and can state the follow- 
ing as being my present impression in relation thereto. 

As to its revelations concerning the world beyond, 
they seem to me to be of the highest importance, because 
they not only, at least for the most part harmonize with 
those which have been given by other spiritual seers, 
but because they are intrinsically reasonable, God- 
worthy and truly cheering. I myself have the greater 
reason to think therii valuable, as they essentially agree 
with the principles of my own psychological investiga- 
tion, which is entirely independent of them. I refer to 
that which is really essential and decisive, laying aside 
a great deal that is unessential in these "revelations," 
(such as the demonstration of the existence of spiritual 
spheres which are said to surround our planet, &c.) 
which may, I fear, furnish abundant material for doubt 
and ridicule to those who are unfavorably disposed. 

As to my present position with regard to "Spiritual- 
ism," I had an opportunity last year of becoming ac- 
quainted with its phenomena and testing them repeat- 
edly. This was through my personal acquaintance with 
Baron Guldenstubbe and his sister, who spent the win- 
ter of 1869-1870 at Stuttgardt, and who honored me 
with their full confidence. I have come to the couclu- 



240 nature's laws 

sion that it is absolutely impossible to account for these 
phenomena, save by assuming the action of a superhu- 
man influence ; but that deception, credulous acceptance 
of worthless things, false interpretation of incidental mat- 
ter — in a word, subjective admixtures are not wanting ; 
on the contrary, that they often play a principal' part, 
which obscures the value of the whole thing. In short, 
there is a great deal of chaff, and but little genuine grain 
in the thing, so that I have often become weary of at- 
tending such experiments, or of causing them to be made, 
although two excellent mediums were at my disposal af- 
ter the departure of Guldenstubbe. I feel, however, 
deeply interested in the cause, for I am by no means 
unaware of its high importance, both in a religious and 
social point of view. I shall therefore be grateful to 
you if you will continue your communications, and I 
assure you and your worthy friend, Counselor Aksa- 
kow, of my most grateful appreciation of the indefati- 
gable zeal with which you so perse veringly devote your 
powers to that cause. 

Yours, with high respect, 

J. H. VON FiCHTE. 

To Mr. Gregor Constantin W^itti^, Breslau, 

[Concerning the spheres above mentioned, the fol- 
lowing extract from a communication may be regarded 
as a comment.] 

The spirit-world is not in the form of a belt, but of a 
sphere ; a spiritual planet in all respects, save spiritual- 
ity, like your own. And yet you have the spirit- world 
amongst you — spirits who have never left the earth. 



IN HmiAN LIFE. 241 

Millions of them are your guests daily. They live 
here ; they have their dwellings here ; their attractions 
are here ; this is to them their spirit-world, and the first 
sphere which every spirit occupies for a longer or short- 
er time after death. 

As a further indication of progress, it may not be 
amiss to state that interesting accounts have been given 
by three of the lecturers on Spiritualism within the last 
year, of its spread in England, France, Italy, and some 
parts of Asia, accompanied with names of prominent 
persons who have ascertained the truth of its revelations 
for themselves. 



THE DOUBLE. 

The "Double" is a curious spiritual phenomenon which 
has recently attracted renewed attention. It consists of 
the apparent presence of a person at a particular spot, 
when it is known that that person was in another place 
at the same moment of time. According to the testi- 
mony of patients who have undergone magnetic treat- 
ment, it is not an uncommon occurrence for them to see 
their magnetizer, although many miles away, as distinct- 
ly as if he was present bodily. At the same time they 
feel the effect of magnetization as perceptibly as if they 
were touched by him. This tjikes place more readily 
when the chain of sympathy is connected by a letter, or 
any material substance. There is an account of cases 
of this kind in the Banner of Light of Jany. 20. 1872. 



242 natuke's laws 

When two persons are in rapport, the electric, magnet- 
ic or spiritual forces operate, and conditions being favor- 
able, spirits still in earth-life, can visit others and 
produce effects as plainly as if they were tangible, and 
in the same way as they are produced by disembodied 
spirits. This has come within our own experience. 
There may be truth in the vulgar adage that " the devil 
is always near when he is spoken of." The spiritualis- 
tic presence of any one, in the body or out, may so im- 
press the mind of some one concerned, as if present in 
the body, and clairvoyance affords confirmation. 

An interesting fact is related concerning this phe- 
nomenon, in the personal experience of the late Presi- 
dent Lincoln. Previous to the assassination, happening 
to look in a mirror, he saw not only the reflection of liis 
own person, but a second object precisely similar. It 
struck him as ominous of some impending evil ; yet he 
had no fear, and although a spiritualist, and having re- 
marked at the time that he should not live to serve out 
his term of office ; and notwithstanding his being fore- 
warned by letters from mediums who had seen in pro- 
phetic vision some such terrible catastrophe, he took no 
precautionary measures for his own safety. 

While alluding to Mr. L., we may further remark 
that he frequently held circles at the presidential man- 
sion. Among the facts which occurred during his in- 
vestigation was a remarkable test given him in New 
York. Visiting one of the test mediums, the spirit of 
a friend who had been sick in Illinois was announced. 
He said it could not be his friend, as he had but recently 
left him improving. On reaching his hotel, however, 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 243 

he received a telegram announcing the person's decease 
corresponding with the time of the manifestation. 

Mr. Anderson, the spirit-artist, was employed by Mr. 
L. to draw or paint a picture. The artist was Impelled 
to make a drawing of an Urn, tipped over on its side, 
which he said was all he could get, nor did he under- 
stand its meaning. It was construed to be a symbol of 
mourning. 

The great conflagration at Chicago was prophesied 
by several mediums, some of whom were arrested on a 
charge of fortune-telling, and made to suffer persecu- 
tion, because it was given them to foresee that which 
was so fearfully verified. 

Louis Napoleon is said to have been similarly fore- 
warned, and protected himself by the use of a bullet-proof 
breast-plate, which proved eifectual when attacked. 

Queen Victoria is a constant recipient of consolation 
from the spirit- world, through a medium in her house- 
hold . Her excellent husband , the justly esteemed Prince 
Albert who communicates with her, was an earnest in- 
quirer and a believer when here. 



THE DARWINIAN THEORY. 

Since the Mosaic account of creation has proved un- 
satisfactory to reason and common sense, the theory 
propounded by Darwin as to the origin of species has 
aroused a lively interest in thinking minds. It is a 
difficult subject, and requires more study than the ma- 
jority of people can give to it. Indeed all such abstruse 



244 nature's laws 

themes will probably remain unsettled until the finite 
mind can grasp the infinite. We are, however, much in- 
debted to scientific students for the steps of progress 
which have been taken. History teaches us nothing be- 
yond the fact that man in shape and intelligence was al- 
ways very much as he is now, and what existed farther 
back is only conjecture. It is interesting and instructive 
to speculate about it, and sometimes the active thought of 
a single human intellect makes an obscure subject plain. 
We can with some degree of profit be witnesses of the 
controversy going on between active and cultivated 
minds, capable of discussing it. The question whether 
the egg or the chick, the seed or the plant was the first 
in order of existence may sometime be solved, and so 
whether such a 3hange can be effected by culture in the 
course of time, as to constitute new species. 

With the highest culture thus far, distinct lines re- 
main. The sour crab may become a fine apple, but a 
turnip remains specific. Hybrids go no further than 
the first step. A horse cannot become a man, but it is 
not impossible that the first bifurcation of the primitive 
vertebrate may, by progressive development in one of 
the two branches, carried to its ultimate, produce a 
change no less wonderful in the origination of species. 



EE-INCAENATION . 

Another theory, still more curious has been advocated 
by Allan Kardec and others, somewhat to the dismay 
of the mass of Spiritualists, viz : that embraced in the 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 245 

doctrine of re-incarnation. They teach that a spirit as 
an individual does not complete its term of life with 
what is ordinarily understood in physical birth, death, 
and entrance on spirit-life ; but that after a time, which 
may extend to thousands of years, it re-enters a body 
in embryo, living another ordinary term of human life 
in the body of the new infant through all the stages of 
growth to adult life, and perhaps old age, in a man- 
ner akin to the transfer of the soul from inferior animals 
to human beings according to the ancient doctrine of 
metempsychosis. 

Believers in the teachings of Spiritualism do not 
doubt that scjme spirits are attracted to mortals in the 
infantile stage of life, becoming their guardians and 
continuino^ to act as such throu^^h earth-life. But this 
is simply control by another distinct and separate spir- 
it, and not permanent possession of the new organiza- 
tion. Spirits, whether recently disembodied or those 
who have left the earth hundreds of years ago, as Jesus, 
Socrates, Demosthenes and many others come and com- 
municate with individuals through suitable mediums ; 
but if they are thus controlling independently, they can- 
not at the same time be living another individual earthly 
life. There is a temporary incarnation of a spirit in 
taking possession of a body, and through it living out 
its incomplete life, being attracted to that body through 
peculiar chemical forces, gratifying its appetites, enjoy- 
ing its pleasures and suffering disappointments : the 
person being conscious of such possession, and to some 
extent sympathising with that control by virtue of the 
similarity of chcinical forces, feeling and acting in some 



246 nature's laws 

measure like the controlling spirit. It is what is called 
obsession or possession, be it good or bad. 

But imagine an exquisite musician, finely organized 
and cultivated, with intensely delicate touch, returning 
to earth, taking on infantile conditions again, being 
trained for and living a hard, practical, unartistic life 
during his second incarnation, completing it, passing on 
and returning again, seeking another embodiment in in- 
fantile conditions — not finding circumstances favorable, 
roams about, and so comes back three or four times in 
as many or fewer generations. The imagination may 
cause a person to personate anything. We knew a man 
w^ho thought he vv^as the embodiment of Jesus, yet was 
a frequenter of bar-rooms, and a smoker and chewer of 
tobacco, habits which we could not think Jesus indulged 
in while on earth, nor that he would be attracted to 
any one who gave way to their indulgence. 

An elderly woman imagined herself to be the old 
"harlot" of the Bible, and conducted as that character 
might be supposed to act on earth. She believed that 
the representation of prophecy and its fulfilment was to 
be made through her, and that she must therefore act 
as she did. She had lived a respectable life, and hence 
was to be pitied and ought to have been cared for in 
some good psychopathic institution such as has been pro- 
posed by Prof. Mead. Such cases bear evidence of an 
unbalanced state of mind, and should be treated as such. 
If spirits come to do harm, they should be taught bet- 
ter, and treated as if they were yet in earth-form ; and 
the person approached by such a spirit, with temptation 
to evil, should summon courage to resist, saying "Get 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 247 

thee behind me, and lead me not into wrong-doing." 
We can account for the peculiarities of many positive 
women and negative men, by their susceptibility to pos- 
itive or negative spirits, who are attracted to them, some 
doubtless going back to ante-natal conditions through 
psychological power. 

The doctrine of re-incarnation deprives us of our in- 
dividuality, making us mere fragments, never complete, 
and destroys the hope of the future as effectually as if 
we were to lose our faith in immortality. 



OBSESSION. 

This subject has been treated of in "Vital Magnetic 
Cure." It is only necessary now to cite a few cases in 
illustration, and to add a word or two in support of the 
fact that obsession is a verity. There seems to be oc- 
casion for this, inasmuch as in a recent work it has been 
denied. 

The difficulty in conceiving of such a condition as ob- 
session arises from the idea of a special devil which en- 
tered into all the theological systems, now one after 
another passing away. The conduct of the person so 
afflicted was demoniac, as described in the New Testa- 
ment, and as is often seen in cases occurring in our own 
time. 

But it is a simple matter after all. Obsession, or as 
it is otherwise expressed, possession, is simply spirit 
control of a particular kind, and more persistently con- 
tinued than control in general. Control is possession 



248 nature's laws 

for the time being, and in this sense all mediumship is 
possession more or less complete. Its synonym (obses- 
sion) is more particularly associated with the demoniac 
idea, and therefore offensive : obsession then differs from 
other cases of control in quality and duration. A bad 
or undeveloped spirit holds the unfortunate person by a 
firm grasp, makes him conduct himself like one violent- 
ly insane, and is indisposed to give up to the control. 

In the biography of J. M. Peebles, there is an inter- 
esting account of a case and its cure ; and similar cases 
may be found in Mrs. Hardinge-Britten's Book. 

The following occurred under our own observation. 
A man of considerable susceptibilitj to spirit-influence 
became a healing medium, but w^as unwilling to admit 
that Spiritualism had any thing to do with it. He wished 
to remain in the church to which he belonged, thinking 
that he could use the spiritual forces at the same time. 
Not long after he ran into the '^affinity" channel, and 
was soon unbalanced. He resolved to go west, the sec- 
ond wife trying, but ineffectually, to dissuade him from 
it. She accompanied him to South Framingham, re- 
turning by next train, and leaving him to pursue his 
journey. Arriving in Brooklyn, his conduct was so 
strange as to attract public attention, an account of which 
was given in the papers. He wanted to hire the Police 
Station House for healing purposes, telling the officers 
that he had performed so many cures in Boston that the 
doctors were after him, and the New York doctors were 
working with them to kill him ; and that if he could get 
possession of the Station, he would send for Mr. Beech- 
er and several other prominent persons, which would 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 249 

enable him to get up conditions to overpower the physi- 
cians. At his own earnest request, they took him to 
Court to see the Judge, who being occupied, he had to 
wait his opportunity. In a few minutes he ran down 
the street towards New York, where he was taken charge 
of and sent to an insane asylum. It seems to us that in 
his attempt to ride two horses, as the expression is, he 
was thrown. What he needed was magnetism to equal- 
ize the internal forces, and quiet him, which his wife 
succeeded in doing as soon as she arrived, taking him to 
Boston, where he was restored to his usual health. 

We knew a lady who resided in Irving Place, New 
York, in affluent circumstances. She was of positive 
temperament. Becoming convinced of the truth of spir- 
it communion, she visited a lady medium to whom she 
gave pecuniary aid, although strongly opposed by her 
husband. After his decease, trouble arose in the settle- 
ment of his affairs. She was his second wife, and had 
a legal interest in the property. An influence operating 
on her partially developed condition prompted her to 
commit acts of extravagance and indelicacy, disrobing 
herself at her window, and in other ways acting in a 
manner entirely opposite to her natural character. Spir- 
itualistic friends who had her in charge never doubted 
her being acted upon by undeveloped spirits. She was 
always positive, and resisted magnetic treatment, seem- 
ing herself to know the law which governs, it mak- 
ing it necessary for a very powerful influence to be 
exerted to subdue her positive will. Her relatives and 
supposed friends placed her in an insane asylum in Mas- 
sachusetts, where she probably is to-day. We believe 



250 nature's laws 

such cases can be cured by adapted magnetism. Was 
she to blame ? Jesus did not ask his patients why they 
were in such conditions as he found them, but used his 
strong psychological power to cure them. The spirit or 
spirits departed instantly. It is useless to use harsh 
treatment, and worse than useless to cry "humbug," for 
the unfriendly spirit cannot be exorcised by such means. 
When the affliction comes home to any one, by his rel- 
ative or friend being thus attacked, which all are liable 
to, he regards the case very diiFerently. The case must 
be dealt with in moderation, not ignoring the presence 
of the controlling spirits nor provoking wrath, but rea- 
soning, appealing for the right, and using the counter- 
acting power within reach. 

Jesus recognized obsession, as we have seen. The 
cases he treated resembled insanity. The resemblance, 
occurring in connection with public interest awakened 
concerning Spiritualism, has given rise to the statement 
that the latter causes insanity. But is there any one 
thing, good or bad which when carried to excess, will 
not cause it? Various causes have been enumerated, 
which produce it, as disappointed love, domestic trouble, 
religious excitement, intemperance, and many others. 
We are informed by a recognized expert, who has made 
the subject a life study, that religious excitement stands 
second in the list of causes. The mind already disor- 
dered may be agitated by Spiritualism, when the com- 
munity generally are interested in it, as it may by any 
other subject, but in such cases it is not a cause, but an 
incident. The main question, after obsession has been 
proved to exist, is how to effect a cure. 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 251 



THE DEE AD FUTURE. 

The following is a synopsis of a funeral address, ex- 
tracted from the Louisville Courier-Journal : 

Philosophically speaking, there is no death — only 
change onward and upward forever. It is evidently im- 
possible to find absolute rest in the universe. Motion 
is everywhere ; and change, by methods inverse and di- 
verse, is a fixed law, ever evolving the more ethereal- 
ized forms of life. Leaves are now falling from the ma- 
ple, the oak and the elm ; friends are falling — all of 
your eyes have wept and hearts ached ere the present 
occasion. How true that man, the earthly man, "dieth 
and wasteth away." 

Winter dies in northern latitudes that spring may 
carpet the earth in grasses and grains ; and man the im- 
mortal of man — that is, spirit — disenthralled from the 
physical organization, may traverse space and pass on 
in its path of destiny toward perfection. 

Being knows no destruction. Annihilation is a mean- 
ingless term. The conservation of forces demonstrates 
this position. It is physically impossible for something 
to become nothing — all that was is, and eternally will 
be. Death, so called, is no enemy, but, natural and 
beautiful,- it must precede immortal life, as must the 
acorn the oak, or the bud the opening flower. Stars 
that fade from our skies fade to illumine other portions 
of the sidereal heavens, and friends — our cherished 



252 natuke's laws 

friends that pass on through the valley of shadows, go 
to people the love-lands of immortality. They take 
with them consciousness, reason, memory, and their 
souls' holiest affections. Pure love is immortal. This 
true — our dear departed loving us still — they delight to 
project their thoughts earthward ; delight to impress us 
with the increasing beauties of their progressive exist- 
ence ; delight in becoming to us what the facts of the 
nineteenth century demonstrate, the actuality of min- 
istering spirits. 

Churchmen joining hands with deists and atheists in 
denying present insph^ations, revelations and communi- 
cations from the spirit-world, generally entertain erro- 
neous conceptions of death, speaking of it as a "tyrant," 
as "the king of terrors," and picturing it as a grim, 
bony skeleton , with scythe mercilessly mowing down hu- 
manity. And then, to intensify the horror, they will 
join in the Christian hymn, beginning with the words 
"Hark ! from the tombs a doleful sound, &c." 

Such hymns, with the accompanying theological dog- 
mas — the resurrection of the body, the day of judgment 
and future endless hell torments — are the pitiable rem- 
nants of an imported paganism. The preaching of these 
and other unreasonable chimerical doctrines is filling 
the country with a scoffing infidelity. 

To Spiritualists death is birth — the second birth into 
a higher state of existence. The body returns to earth, 
to reappear again only in grasses, flowers and forests. 
As well ask the oak to return to its acorn, the winged 
bird to return to the nest and re-inhabit the shell, as to 
ask an immortalized spirit to return to some gloomy 



IX HUMAN LIFE. 253 

graveyard and take on the dead, material body. "Flesh 
and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God ;" Paul 
further said, "We sow not the body which shall be." 
The body which shall be is the "spiritual body," and es- 
sential spirit is the life, the conscious intelligence of this 
spiritual body connecting mortals with immortals, and 
angels with God, who alone hath underived immortality. 
All the popular religions of the day rest upon tradi- 
tions. Spiritualism alone rests upon the basic founda- 
tion of present, tangible facts. It is the living witness 
of the future existence. Considered historically, it 
unites the past and present. Referring to the Bibles 
of all nations — and especially the Old and New Testa- 
ments — we see that immortalized beings held conscious 
communion with mortals for some four thousand years. 

The following incident affords a beautiful illustration 
of spiritual re-union. 

"I was greatly pleased," says Dr. Thomson "with an 
incident a mother gave me the other day. A child lay 
dying. Feeling unusual sensations, she said, ^ Mamma, 
what is the matter with me?' 

Mother. — ^My child, you are dying.' 

Child. — ^Well mamma, what is dying?' 

Mother. — ^To you, dear it is going to heaven.' 

Child.— 'Where is heaven?' 

Mother. — 'It is where God is, and the angels, and 
the good men made perfect.' 

Child. — 'But, mamma, I am not acquainted with any 
of those, and do not like to go alone ; won't you go with 
me?' 



254 NATURE^S LAWS 

Mother. — 'O, Mary, I cannot. God has called you 
only; not me, now.' 

Turning to the father, she asked the same question. 
Then piteously to each of her brothers and sisters, she 
repeated the same interrogatory, and received the same 
response. She then fell into a gentle slumber, from 
which she awoke in a transport of joy, saying : 'You 
need not go with me ; I can go alone. I have been there, 
and grandmamma is there, and grandpapa is there, and 
Aunt Martha.'" 



THE CO-EELATION OF SPIRITUAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL 
PHENOMENA. 

Magnetism, mesmerism, psychology and spiritualism 
sometimes get confounded. With the exception of the 
first, we consider them the same, with this exception : 
spiritualism deals with disembodied spirits, mesmerism 
and psychology with spirits either in or out of the body. 
We may liken magnetism and electricity to the ocean ; 
spiritualism, mesmerism and psychology as vessels sail- 
ing upon it. Both are essential to each other v^^hen 
sailing is to be done, but differ in quality and use. 
Spirits use magnetism and electricity as the vessel does 
water: as the captain directs the sailing, so the spirits 
control the minds of mdividuals. 

Many persons possess this power ; some have exhib- 
ited it in public, of whom Sunderland, Grimes, Cutter, 
Stearns and Cadwell may be named. The object of 
most has been to amuse rather than instruct the public ; 



IX HUMAN LIFE. 255 

and this they do by showing in a humorous manner, the 
control, more or less complete, which they have over the 
will and other mental faculties. This mode is not with- 
out its uses, though it would be better to consider at the 
same time, its relations to mental philosophy. Nearly 
all persons are familiar with the remarkable phenomena 
shown at one or other of these exhibitions. 

Mesmerists are undoubtedly assisted by invisible spir- 
its. They effect temporarily a complete subjugation of 
the will of the "subject," and are able to control the 
more susceptible ones at subsequent times with great 
facility ; making them act as automatons reflecting the 
will of the operator. 

Jt is a power that may be used for good or evil pur- 
poses — good in the hands of well disposed persons, evil 
if employed by the unprincipled and selfish. It exists 
in some in a remarkable degree. An example is found 
in St. Louis in the person of a man of eccentric habits. 
Many persons coming into his presence are immediately 
brought completely under his will, acting precisely as 
he desires. He lives a singular life ; does not wash his 
person, comb his hair or sweep his rooms. It is said 
that he occupies one of two rooms alternately ; remain- 
ing six months in one, then removing to the other, and 
returning in six months to the first, without cleansing 
either. Some of the most positive mediums on visiting 
him have been compelled to kneel at his feet. He does 
not claim to be a Spiritualist. The power thus displayed 
through this uncouth character is, however, the same. 
Each person attracts spirits of a peculiar kind, as a gen- 
eral rule, adapted to his own magnetism, wants or de- 



256 nature's laws 

sires. He may be elevated by holy aspirations, or sink 
below the level of pure morality to a state of almost 
hopeless degradation. With himself rests the moral re- 
sponsibility. 

Congenital deformity is often the result of ante-natal 
impressions made upon the nervous system of the moth- 
er, who receives a shock from the sudden presentation 
of a revolting spectacle before her, influencing the de- 
velopment of the embryo. In the case of extremely 
sensitive, mediumistic women, it may be classed among 
psychological phenomena. 

The planchette excited the marvellousness of great 
numbers for a time, and is still an object of curiosity 
among those who have not paid attention to the facts of 
Spiritualism. It is simply an indicator of mediumship, 
enabling the spirit to move the muscles of the arm for 
writing, with greater facility than the arm itself unsup- 
ported, and hence manifestations can be produced with 
less controlling power than is ordinarily required. As 
to the truthfulness of the communications, they are pre- 
cisely the same as those produced by other modes of con- 
trol. 

This, and the publication of such books as " Gates 
ajar" and "Hedged in," are steps of progress towards 
Spiritualism, directing the mind to its higher truths and 
philosophy. 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 257 



ORGANIZATION. 

Spiritualists have generally lacked cohesiveness ; con- 
sequently they have never been able to unite, with a 
concentration of energy upon practical plans of reform. 
Coming out from all sorts of religious organizations, 
where they had been constantly trammelled by creeds, 
and restricted in the expression of opinion and freedom 
of action, their emancipation from the thraldom sp.d re- 
straint of authority has had a tendency to set some afloat 
on the sea of life without anchor. Others who have 
embraced the faith were always free, and their habits of 
independence have in a measure disqualified them for co- 
operation. 

Numerous attempts have been made at diiferent times 
to effect an organization, both local and general, which 
have thus far been unsuccessful. They have gone through 
the ordinary formalities necessary to assume an orderly 
shape, declaring principle, adopting a preamble and 
resolutions, and not the least important, appointing offi- 
cers ; have moved on zealously in their way, but their 
active existence has lasted for a short time only. For 
some reason or other, the interest felt in the movement 
has abated, no useful purpose has been accomplished, and 
their constitution, declaration or whatever formed the 
bond of union has become a dead letter. We have long 
been convinced that it is impracticable to attempt to unite 
upon any compact plan, such as those which bind to- 



258 NATTJT.E'S LAWS 

gether, and render so formidable for oppression, some 
of the religious organizations. A movement of this 
kind does not seem to be any part of the mission of Spir- 
itualism ; but its plan is to operate by natural methods, 
without sudden convulsions, its principles and gospel 
being made to penetrate the minds and hearts of the en- 
tire human family, in and out of specific organizations, 
silently but effectually, as the leaven is gradually infused 
through the mass. 

A legal organization for receiving and dispensing be- 
quests according to the will of the giver, to collect 
and disburse funds for charitable and educational pur- 
poses, IS necessary and proper. 

An agreement is had among all the Spiritualists in 
the nation upon the one grand fact of spirit communion ; 
but beyond this, it has been the general understanding, 
that they should agree to disagree. 

Upon questions of general politics, they must neces- 
sarily differ. Through sectional prejudice, they were 
found to differ upon points of national policy, even when 
the life of the nation was in danger. Upon other issues, 
such as woman suffrage, the social question (so called,) 
labor reform and like topics, they cannot altogether 
agree. Each party may be as sincere as the other ; 
and recognizing the right of individual opinion, each 
must pay proper respect to the candid opinions of the 
other, and thus their respective methods of reform may 
be divergent, though the expectation may be that they 
will all reach the same result. 

In practical works of humanity, it is desirable that 
there should be decided unanimity and hearty co-oper- 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 259 

ation ; but here there is also diversity of opinion as to 
details. 

Where an oro-anization has been entered into for the re- 
form of a public evil, irrespective of creed, Spiritualists 
may co-operate with such organization without bringing 
it into spiritualistic movements as a side issue. 

Some organizations called spiritualistic have not fair- 
ly represented either the cause or its believers and ad- 
vocates. Thus at the late national convention, so little 
was said about Spiritualism, and so much upon other 
subjects, that a stranger reading one part of the pro- 
ceedings would have supposed it to be a body of persons 
convened for the purpose of holding a discussion in the 
interests of woman suffrage ; and reading another would 
have thought it a medical convention, little dreaming 
that the beautiful philosophy of Spiritualism was the os- 
tensible attraction which had brought the speakers to- 
gether. 

We are of opinion that if conventions were discon- 
tinued, and the money expended upon them, devoted to 
the publication and distribution of liberal tracts, broad- 
cast over the land, much more good would be done. 
Schemes to gratify personal ambition should not be tol- 
erated among Spiritualists who endeavor zealously to 
discourage and defeat it among others. A united effort 
in proper directions would tend more rapidly to establish 
Spiritualism as the Universal Religion of the whole hu- 
man family. 



260 nature's laws 



CIVIL AND SOCIAL EIGHTS. 



EQUAi;, RIGHTS AND WOMAN SUFFRAGE. 

There are several practical questions involving human 
rights, which ought not to be passed over, inasmuch as 
Spiritualism teaches practical duties, and its whole ten- 
dency is to the amelioration of the condition of the hu- 
man race. It denies the right of any one to exercise 
absolute authority over another, but that equality of 
rights is inherent, and therefore should be maintained. 
Equality of rights embraces the exercise of suffrage by 
woman as well as man. 

One of the main arguments adduced against allowing 
women the exercise of the elective franchise has been 
based upon the opposition of Paul to woman's indepen- 
dence. But the signs of the times indicate a liberalizing 
influence at work even in the churches in this direction. 
In the columns of the " Congregationalist " of Jany 25, 
1871, a letter appeared in favor of this movement, from 
a lady, whose object was to show that the harsh 
expressions of Paul applied only to the ignorant women 
of his time. This explanation if accepted by the follow- 
ers of Paul, will remove an obstacle that has been for- 
midable, because the prejudice has been so extensively 
rooted. Women in the churches will by this change 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 2G1 

feel free to accept any position, and act in any capacity 
for which their talents and acquirements have rendered 
them capable. 

Where they have had a fair opportunity, their capa- 
bility to fill places of trust and responsibility has been 
proved. Certain occupations are better suited to the 
female sex, while others are to males ; but no exact line 
can be drawn. Fragility of constitution in men, and 
robustness in women, make exceptions to the rule, as it 
applies to manual labor. Statesmanship has not been 
regarded as a function of women, at least by ambitious 
politicians, yet many of them are in every way fitted 
for such a sphere. Certain branches of mercantile and 
mechanical business can be carried on by women, though 
generally they are men's work. But the whole subject 
is now so familiar to the public mind, that we need not 
occupy space by repeating the arguments that have been 
brought forward in a discussion that has been exhaus- 
tive. 

Equality of rights is a principle of justice, and should 
be accorded to all without opposition, irrespective of sex, 
color or race. "Taxation without representation " was 
complained o/in revolutionary times, and is equally un- 
just to-day. Equal privileges as a principle, is defended 
in the Constitution, but by a want of consistency, limit- 
ed in its application. 

Qualification in the exercise of the elective franchise 
has not been required in any reasonable manner. A 
property qualification disfranchises every person who has 
been unfortunate, however capable or patriotic, while 
every successful knave, albeit an ignoramus or a traitor, 



262 nature's laws 

is guaranteed the right. If any test at all is adopted, it 
should be that of intelligence, with reasonable length of 
residence, in the case of foreigners to give fair opportu- 
nity for them to appreciate questions affecting the gen- 
eral welfare. 

There is no safe-guard against corruption in politics, 
but moral training. This is now sadly needed to re- 
trieve the disgrace into which recent terrible revelations 
in New- York, and elsewhere have precipitated us. Let 
spiritualists set the example. 



FREE LOVE. 

This has proved to be a painfully alarming topic, and 
has brought more reproach upon Spiritualism than any 
other subject that has been agitated. Spiritualists have 
been charged with encouraging unbridled license, and 
teaching it as a right. But it is proper to state in the 
outset, that whatever meaning may be attached to the 
expression "Free Love," or whatever perversion of good 
morals may result from its use or mis-use. Spiritual- 
ism is not responsible therefor. It has no more connec- 
tion with Spiritual Philosophy than with Protestantism 
or E-oman Catholicism, but has sprung up independent- 
ly of them all. 

The charge alluded to, whether true or false, has 
been extensively made, and has impeded the progress of 
Spiritualism among the lovers of a pure morality. That 
it has been practised in its most revolting aspect, by 
persons known as spiritualists is doubtless true, as has 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 263 

also been the case among others who have made no pre- 
tension to the name. Not only this, but there are per- 
sons ranked as Spiritualists who pretend to teach the art 
of love ; others in cities who so far disregard common 
decency as to advertise nostrums called love powders, 
makins: the nefarious traffic a source of o^ain. With the 
morally corrupt, it is an individual affair : and their 
culpability is not to be excused or palliated because of 
belief in Spiritualism, real or pretended, or of good 
standing in church membership. 

This is not the occasion for a dissertation on Love, 
nor Freedom. Both in their highest sense are admirable 
terms. Love is of all the affections, the most elevated, 
the purest and the best. Freedom is one of the most 
precious of human rights. By a subtle dexterity they 
may be combined, making the curious phrase Free Love, 
with more than their original meaning, though the com- 
bination is claimed to retain only the pure qualities of 
both. Whether Love is a sentiment, quality or affec- 
tion which it is possible to bind, we need not now stop 
to consider. 

The Free Love which has been thrust upon Spiritual- 
ists as a precept is not new, and its practice is by no 
means new in the world. Some years ago a couple 
went to a western city to propagate the doctrine among 
the Spiritualists, with a good deal of pretentiousness. 
It was accepted by some unsuspicious, well-meaning 
people, but finding that they could not be allowed the 
leadership in the movements of Spiritualists, the mis- 
sionaries left and at length went over to the Catholic 
Church. In their short peregrination however, they did 



264 nature's laws 

not fail to sow seed from which bitter fruit was reaped, 
emphatically to the "disgrace " as a recent writer ex- 
presses it, of the cause, to which It had adhered as a 
parisitic growth. 

When a peculiar doctrine is preached to a new audi- 
ence, it is not unreasonable for the listeners to inquire 
who preaches it ; for there is sound sense in the old ad- 
age that "a man is known by the company he keeps." 

We heard a strong advocate of the doctrine, who was 
formerly a methodist, say that he believed in it to the 
fullest extent. He claimed to be a leader, is a married 
man, and it is also well known that he spends but half 
of his time with his family, and the remainder with his 
free-love affinities. Being well versed in Bible histo- 
ry, he brings up the practice of King Solomon and Da- 
vid, as^examples worthy of imitation. 

A person living in New Jersey, but whose base of 
operations is in New York, who is a firm believer in 
free-love on the passional order, with but little of the 
spiritual has great seductive power. His method of 
charming is as wily as that of the serpent, and his suc- 
cess in carrying out his doctrine so marked that it has 
been necessary to expose his machinations in the public 
prints, that the unsophisticated might escape. He boasts 
of his subtle power. His manner is cool, collected, 
business-like, and as gentlemanly as if he had been 
brought up in the best society. His first step is to sup- 
ply the material wants of each new victim, if in need, 
and after gaining confidence, the ultimate object is easi- 
ly accomplished. He then disappears. In one histance 
we knew of the sad results of a cunningly devised 



IN HUMAN LIFE, 265 

scheme, carried out with as much zeal and apparent 
sincerity as any true lover could have used in the pros- 
ecution of an honorable suit, but too late for retribu- 
tive justice to be secured. So shrewdly was his scheme 
managed, that it disarmed suspicion, until the bird had 
flown, and sadness came over the victim. 

Another case may be cited. A music teacher left his 
wife and two children in the State of New York, in 
company with a lady of some degree of culture, who 
had been led to adopt the theory of affinity, and went 
to the west. After a time he left her for another field 
of adventure. She followed him. They retraced their 
steps together as far as the middle station of their wan- 
derings. A child was born, and both abandoned for a 
new affinity, viz : the sister of the second choice. At 
first it was avowed that the acquaintance was only of the 
Platonic kind — love in freedom — between two intellect- 
ual friends ; but of course the intimacy increased and 
intensified, and a child was born ; the first choice (wife) 
and the second (affinity) being left to shift for them- 
selves. A second, third and fourth child was born of 
No. 3. All died. In the meantime, the fr6e-lover wrote 
to the discarded ones, asking them to come and live with 
him. This being indignantly refused, No. 3. was final- 
ly deserted, and went to live in the family of a noted 
free-lover as a house servant, with all hope of true do- 
mestic life blasted. 

These are examples of the practice of individuals who 
were advocates of free-love. One of them, our inform- 
ant in the case cited states, openly contended for the 
right of all to follow their instincts, and taught the pu- 



266 nature's laws 

rity of instinct in the love relation. His practice is all 
the comment that his theory requires. 

Many persons quote passages from the Old Testament, 
showing the customs which prevailed in the patriarchal 
age, in justification of their own deeds. But if this is 
to be the guide, the absolute requirements of the Jewish 
law, with its pains and penalties is equally binding, and 
obedience to it should be exacted from them. 

In the New Testament, much is said concerning love, 
the term being used in the sense of charity, and connect- 
ed with Godliness. Love to God is enjoined, and Paul 
exhorts his brethren to love one another, and to let 
brotherly love continue. Love to the neighbor is com- 
manded as a duty. But nowhere is the "free" variety 
spoken of except in terms of condemnation. 

The quality of love depends upon its object, and with 
reasoning and morally responsible beings, upon the mo- 
tive which awakens, modifies or chastens it. In refine- 
ment and degree it will also correspond with the character 
of the person cherishing it, from the base, passional, un- 
restrained animal instinct, to that pure, virtuous attach- 
ment, under the control of the intellect and the higher 
moral sentiments. We have the parental, divided into 
paternal and maternal, the fraternal, the filial, the love 
of friends, or friendship, the sensual, selfish or passional, 
the conjugal, mistaken sometimes for sensual, the love 
of country or patriotism, the feeling of humanity, or 
philanthrophy, or love and sympathy for our fellow-be- 
ings. But it is difficult to find a logical connection 
between love in its holiest sense, and freedom, when 
freedom is made to mean that we may do as we please. 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 267 

Pure, unselfish love must in its very nature be free 
and spontaneous. If otherwise, it would cease to exist. 

Human nature, notwithstanding its intrinsic goodness, 
is mingled with imperfection ; and to follow instinct 
is to abandon the controlling power of intellect and mor- 
als. Restraint for the limitation of criminal profligacy, 
(for it cannot be entirely prevented,) by the embodiment 
of that controlling power in human law, is necessary for 
the protection of the weak. If all men and women were 
angels so pure as to be a law unto themselves, there 
would be no need of restriction in the love relations nor 
any other. All human laws would cease to be necessa- 
ry, and would come to an end. Who are so angelic as 
to bo fit for our teachers in such a matter ? Are they the 
modest, unselfish, self-denying, cliaritable sort of peo- 
ple? 

The loose manner in which some of the would-be lead- 
ers treat the subject, reminds us of the drifting of a rud- 
derless vessel at sea, without Captain or Pilot. 

Take away the marriage code, and the opprobrium 
which has attached to prostitution goes with it. A 
writer who appreciates the dangerous tendency of the 
indiscriminate teaching of this fascinating freedom very 
properly remarks in a late letter to the R. P. Journal, 
"I do not believe that anything deserving the name of r^ 
love ever did, or ever can dictate a marriage, that will 
be legitimate only for a night. We will have an idea 
what can, and what does, dictate numerous such mar- 
riages, but I cannot attend upon its new baptism, nor 
consent to this unchristening." 

Within the aura which surrounds each individual, 



268 nature's laws 

doubtless the subtle attractive power exists. Any one 
possessing this power in a marked degree, coming in 
presence of the opposite sex, will wield a perceptible in- 
fluence, and the other be the subject of that influence. 

The negative will to a greater or less extent, be con- 
trolled hy, and for the time being live in the sphere of 
the positive, sometimes being spell-bound. The effect 
may be called psychological, magnetic, spiritual, or as 
some say elective affinity. It is governed by a law as 
are other psychic phenomena. The power varies in 
quality with the individual, and as we have already seen, 
is potent for good or ill, according to the moral and 
physical status of its possessor. Like fire, water or 
electricity, if properly managed, in safe and skilful 
hands, it will produce good effects. One person will 
be a willing subject, another cannot resist. We have 
known persons who could not separate themselves from 
the sphere of the fascination, until a powerful magnetizer 
was employed to break the spell, by changing the chem- 
ical forces. 

• The changeling may have as many affinities as he 
desires, but these are not lasting ; they are not conjugal. 
In time, and the period is generally short, the power 
diminishes, the attraction ceases, and new subjects are 
sought. There are, without-doubt, true soul affinities 
which are lasting ; if there were none, the true union 
of souls, and the domestic happiness resulting w^ould be 
banished from hearth and home. 



IN IIU^IAN LIFE. 269 



MARRIAGE. 

It is scarcely possible for a line of demarcation to be 
drawn between the practical bearings of free-love, just 
considered, and those of marriage. The same questions 
apply to both. Some however relate to marriage, which 
have not been included in the other ; but we continue 
the discussion very much as if all were in common. 
With the immense experience in the marriage relation, 
which has been accumulated in the world, it would seem 
as if no question could have been better settled ; yet 
from the widely divergent opinions to which utterance 
has been given, based upon the most contradictory tes- 
timony, it appears on the other hand, to be one of the 
most unsettled. 

The false aspect in which the subject must necessari- 
ly be viewed by parties outside, renders them incompe- 
tent to judge of it. Such persons give their opinions, 
however, with all the assurance of veterans. The hap- 
pily and unhappily married, the divorced, the abscond- 
ing, the neglectful, the pure-minded, the sufferers, and 
even young unmarried women have their advice to give. 
And this is to be had free, and also for a good fee. 

The result of all is that marriage can be made the 
happiest or the most miserable social condition. It is no 
new lesson ; all young persons, in any degree observant, 
on the verge of maturity, have learned so much. And 
so they have hope and precaution about equally bal- 
anced. 



270 nature's laws 

Nature demands the union of the sexes to cany out 
her economy, and so the wise and the foolish are ready 
to make the venture. 

Marriage is consummated from a variety of motives, 
in as many different cases ; from the purest, holiest, and 
most unselfish, to the meanest. Some are brought 
about under psychological or magnetic influence, with 
which conjugal love has nothing to do. This perishes 
with the decadence of the charm. 

One party circumvents the other, practising fraud up- 
on an unsuspecting nature. Among the rich, and in 
high life, it is notunfrequently a direct bargain and sale 
of virtue, wdth as little scruple as can be found in the 
lowest depths of prostitution. Hence comes the heart- 
burnings and breakings when the fraud becomes appar- 
ent, and the base motive is stripped of its falsity, and 
laid bare in all its hideousness. 

When the motive on the part of both is true and hon- 
orable, disappointment is liable to follow, from an exag- 
geration of the beatific expectations. The man thinks 
he has secured an angel, which insures a blissful life in 
the future. The maiden has selected or accepted the 
choicest of nature's noblemen. Contact with the asper- 
ities of life dims the bright prospect, and the less 
thoughtful and considerate will be tempted to criminate 
the innocent life partner, and thus bickerings begin. 
This subject was so ably treated in a recent discourse by 
Rev. John Weiss, that it ought to be in every one's 
hands. 

Marriage for a home is but a modified commercial 
transaction ; those of expendency, convenience, or posi- 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 271 

tion have less excuse, but have no claim to the sanction 
of heavenly blessing. If one or other has a prospect of 
a rich inheritance, and a well developed physique, the 
prize is eagerly sought. 

Parents sometimes become mercenary, and urge mar- 
riage upon their children because of its eligibility, al- 
though there may be a total want of adaptation between 
the parties. AVhere there is a preponderance of one 
sex in numbers, persons contract marriage more has- 
tily than if the sexes were nearly equal. Girls- some- 
times accept the first offer, lest they should lose the 
opportunity. 

When the marriage is fruitful, the children form a 
bond of union, which keeps the parties together, even 
when serious misunderstandings occur. It cannot be 
expected that any two persons will be able to see all 
things alike. Difference of temperament, social train- 
ing, and religious education, will cause them to look 
from different standpoints. But where there is a dis- 
position to harmonize, it will prevent bickerings. If 
such an anomaly could be found as two persons being in 
all things alike, they would be fossilized and unable to 
progress, presenting a tedious monotony. Variety 
gives beauty, as in the varied hues of flowers in a bou- 
quet. 

It has been a question whether the sexual relation 
would continue in the future life. We have heard a 
person say that he anticipated more then than it was 
possible to enjoy in this life, in this respect, but to us 
it indicated his unspiritual character. It is said that in 
heaven they neither marry, nor are given in marriage. 



272 nature's laws 

Spirits may affect those in the earth-form psychological- 
ly, by continuing on the earth plane. But it is well 
known that in this life, the more spiritually minded a 
person is, the less active are the animal instincts. From 
this and the fact that the physiological function is no 
longer needed, it is reasonable to conclude that the de- 
sire ceases. We are never taught that children are born 
in spirit life. 

With reference to the continuance of marriage in the 
future- life, we regard it as a unity of spirit, which will 
remain perhaps forever, or until outgrown by progres- 
sion. Spiritual beings are not perfect. The ties which 
bind them on earth, cease with earth life. In spirit life, 
all are free to select congenial elements and conditions. 

It has been asserted that the exercise of the sexual 
function is a necessity beyond the propagation of the 
species, and that we should learn from animals how to 
improve the race. Over-indulgence is detrimental to 
health ; indeed thousands are constantly being pre- 
maturely destroyed by it. Abstemiousness is not in- 
compatible with health, as we see in the life of domestic 
animals. Improvement by selection in the propagation 
of domestic animals is by direction of the mind of man. 
Physiology teaches the laws which should be observed 
to secure the highest physical development, and to pre- 
vent the transmission of diseased and imperfect qualities. 
Not only is the highest health thus attainable, but in the 
same ratio, the best moral culture. 

The spontaneous attachment which is awakened, may 
orio:inate with the female as well as the male. But its 
expression by the woman has been very unreasonably 



m HUMAN LIFE. 273 

objected to on the ground of indelicacy. When the im- 
pulse is sincere, and guided by an honorable motive, 
and the fortunate object of such aiFection is an honorable 
man, worthy of it, we can see no impropriety in her 
making a proposal of marriage. It will require no more 
courage on her part than it often does in the case of 
men. She is intuitive in her nature, and thereby ena- 
bled to select a partner in every proper way adapted to 
her spiritual needs. • 

Intuitive perception, psychometry and the opening of 
spiritual sight, are valuable aids in detecting deception, 
and w^ant of adaptation, the practical use of which will 
be perceived in the selection of partners whose condi- 
tions are congenial. 

In the "Vital Magnetic Cure" this subject is treated 
of in its psychological and magnetic phases. 

The practice of polygamy destroys the equality of the 
sexes, and affects the rights of unmarried males, who 
must of necessity remain in celibacy, by the dispropor- 
tion of women remaining unmarried. If man has a 
right to a plurality of wives, woman has an equal right 
to a plurality of husbands. 



There are a few questions which, in summing up, 
each individual may answer. 

1. Is not a monogamic marriage the most natural, 
the happiest, and hence the most desirable condition of 
aocial and domestic life? 

2. Would parents like their children, of either sex to 
indulge in promiscuity, before or after marriage, as 



274 nature's laws 

some of the bold Free-love advocates teach and practise, 
v\^ith no law for protection or interference ? 

3. Is there no need of human law to control those 
who are not developed to such a condition as to be able 
to control themselves? 

4. Why try to reform prostitutes if freedom of the 
love passion will develop a higher order of morality? 

5. Is it not a fact that nearly all of those who advo- 
cate the abolition of marriage lav^s are persons who have 
been unfortunate in the selection of partners, resulting 
in domestic unhappiness ; and does not the primary 
cause exist in the individual, rather than in the opera- 
tion of law ? 

6. Is not the value of judgment in such persons di- 
minished in the premises, rather than rendered reliable 
as to what constitutes true sexual union ? 

7. Do not the mistakes which have occurred show the 
necessity of a more general diffusion of physiological 
knowledge, as a means of prevention of future mistakes? 

8 Are not self-knowledge and the culture of the high- 
er faculties of the soul indispensable to a correct under- 
standing of the marriage relations ? 



DIVORCE. 

The great prevalence of inharmony in married life has 
agitated the public mind to a serious extent, and the 
only remedy for the evil which the majority of minds 
have considered efficient is divorce. There is a fearful 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 275 

responsibility in resorting to such a radical measure. 
To justify it, there should be positive proof that the 
cause is utterly hopeless of compromise and cure. 

Incompatibility of temper discovered after marriage, 
is a cause of a vast amount of domestic unhappiness, 
whether depending upon difference of temperament, or 
habitually yielding to outbursts of passion ; but if the 
unfortunate possessor of it is not absolutely insane, and 
there is a disposition to do right, we question its incu- 
rability. A mutual eiFort to bear and forbear will grad- 
ually mould and adapt to each other, dispositions which 
at first may seem to be incompatible. Depravity must 
be very great, which would compel a separation, espec- 
ially where there are children, until every reasonable 
effort to repair the mischief has been exhausted. 

The worst causes of domestic unhappiness are not 
those enumerated in divorce laws, for the silent sufferer 
keeps the knowledge of them hidden in his or her sor- 
rowing heart. There are flagrant offenses sufficiently 
grave, which cannot be kept from public observation, 
and which if not repented of, and restitution made, de- 
serve divorce. 

After having tried in vain to restore harmony, and it 
is evident that the mis-mated pair cannot endure each 
other's society, come the terms of separation. It is bet- 
ter then that the settlement of affairs should be submitted 
to arbitration, rather than that private disagreements 
should be brought into Court, and made public, to the 
scandal of both parties. If this again fails through ob- 
stinacy on either side, the final and unavoidable necessi- 
ty of resorting to a legal tribunal must be had. But to 



276 

whatever tribunal the adjudication is submitted, it should 
be composed in part of women, as suggested by Mr. 
Weiss. The justice of this suggestion will be apparent 
to every well-meaning person. Where woman's inter- 
ests are concerned, either as asrorressor or asforrieved, the 
sympathy, the appreciation of equality of right, and 
even-handed justice, can be secured only by her being 
represented, and in part adjudged by her own sex. 

In framing a divorce law, its terms should not only 
afford relief to cases which now need its provisions, but 
it should be prospective in its operation, so as to prevent 
some of the marriages which would be entered into by 
unscrupulous adventurers. For example a proper cause 
of divorce being proved, the property which has been 
held by the one party, which constituted the attraction 
in the eyes of the other, should revert to the original 
owner, after suitable provision has been made for child- 
ren. But if the possessor of wealth also has the posi- 
tive power, using the attraction to bring about a mar- 
riage of convenience, and afterwards chooses practically 
to annul it, from a capricious fancy, the partner thus 
chosen should be fairly compensated by a division of 
the property. 

Laws have embraced various causes as sufficient 
ground of divorce, such as wilful neglect and abandon- 
ment for a certain length of time, habitual intoxication 
and brutal treatment, infidelity to the conjugal relation, 
and some have held incompatibility of temper to be suf- 
ficient, while in one State, the law has been so accom- 
modating to the dissatisfied as to allow divorce for any 
cause satisfactory to the judge. This last opens the door 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 277 

for corruption, and unfortunately we have too much ev- 
idence that judges, selected from among educated men, 
for supposed impartiality, are not invulnerable when 
approached by interested, scheming politicians with a 
consideration. 

The division of property accumulated by the joint in- 
dustry of the contending parties should be in accordance 
with the principles of justice, based upon the evidence 
which may be adduced. 

In regard to the subsequent care of children, a decis- 
ion would be in some cases difficult. It would depend 
upon the evidence, which of the parties should be in- 
trusted with so responsible a duty. 



COMMUNISM. 

Community of property has been advocated by some 
as a doctrine of spiritualism, and hence needs a passing 
notice. As an abstract theory, it is a very agreeable 
source of consolation to the unfortunate who have failed, 
notwithstanding the most faithful industry and honesty, 
to accumulate a fair proportion of this world's goods. 
As a fundamental principle in the great Fourier move- 
ment, which enlisted the sympathy of many benevolent 
men, a quarter of a century ago, it was full of humani- 
ty, and intended to be a fair and just practical measure. 
It seemed as if the millenium was approaching, when 
the hard workers in both physical and mental fields of 
labor, would be allowed an equal share of the fruits of 



278 nature's laws 

their industry, instead of much the larger share being 
appropriated by mere capitalists and drones. The prin- 
ciple of association, recommended itself to all by the 
promised fruits, in the form of privileges and enjoy- 
ments, which could not by any possibility under the 
isolated and selfish system, be obtained by the masses. 
But notwithstanding the co-operation of intellect and 
philanthropy with practical thought and active indus- 
try, the experiment failed at last. 

It has been effectually carried out among the Sha- 
kers, and by some other societies, whose bond of union 
embraced some particular religious creed. These have 
become entirely independent of the world in respect to 
property, and enjoy all physical comforts, with freedom 
from that worst of all sources of anxiety, pecuniary em- 
barrassment. 

So long as the competitive system obtains, which in 
business affairs is too much like every man's hand being 
lifted against his neighbor, it is practically impossible to 
secure equality of compensation for equal services. 

In the present state of the world's activity in business 
competition, if a division were made to day, the equilib- 
rium would scarcely last till to-morrow, so unequal is 
production and consumption. Hence it is regarded by 
practical minds as Utopian. It is unquestionably 
impracticable to-day, but when selfishness shall be su- 
perceded by the mutual helpfulness of a universal broth- 
hood, the obstacle will be removed. 

The argument against an attempt to equalize the dis- 
tribution of property is that it would be injurious to the 
interests of the human family by taking away ambition. 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 279 

responsibility, and aspiration, making life a monotony; 
and if all persons in the earth sphere had wealth, and 
the resulting ease, comfort, and pleasure, there would 
be no progress ; while as it now is, the world makes 
progress, notwithstanding all opposing obstacles. 

A bed of ease, and relief from the struggle to obtain 
the means for material support is pleasant to contem- 
plate, but in such a life there is no impetus to exertion 
for active usefulness. Many of those now wealthy have 
acquired it through long continued struggle with adver- 
sity ; while many who were born in affluence know not 
the value of money, and have become spendthrifts and 
profligates. 

Successful, enterprising merchants are not necessarily 
dishonest or unjust. Their energetic activity is needed in 
the world. It is true that rapid accumulation by ap- 
propriating the proceeds of others' labor is too common, 
and there are too many questionable ways for sudden en- 
richment. We know persons who do not own a dol- 
lar's worth of property, who have no skill to accumulate, 
and who scarcely know where to get the next meal, yet 
have been benefactors of mankind. Of such are inven- 
tors, who scarcely ever receive any reward for their 
contributions to the worlds' convenience and comfort, 
but pave the way for great profit for others. Such al- 
so are the martyrs in most benevolent undertakings. 

It is a blessed hope that looks forward to a juster life 
in the spirit-world where dollars have no further use, 
and at last worth will make the man. 

We find the following paragraph in point ; "After all 
is said, I still believe that whatever is, is essential, and 



280 nature's laws 

in the end an even balance will be struck between all 
men — no one to have any advantage of the other, but 
the experience of one is relatively the experience of all. 
The millionaire must be a pauper some day, and vice 
versa. At all events I do not see the necessity of troub- 
ling ourselves about this apparent inequality, as we can- 
not make the rich divide with the poor, and we all 
know that an equal division of property is impossible, 
and even if possible, there would be no equality unless 
there was a division every hour. To-day some men are 
richer in log-cabins than others in palaces, and would 
not exchange places. Millions might make some men 
happy, but would make others miserable. Diogenes in 
his tub was gratified and satisfied, and the only thing 
the wealthy and willing prince could do for him, was to 
"stand out of my sunlight," to use his own words, for 
the philosopher would not accept of any other favor 
when offered him. He was superior to all material ac- 
cumulations and conveniences, sublimely satisfied to 
simply exist, and after all he was the millioniare, and 
possessed that which.money cannot buy, supreme con- 
tentment, and a philosophy to comprehend the true val- 
ue of all earthly possessions. 

There is something radically wrong in the operation 
of methods of accumulation, as compared with ordinary 
industry. Enormous salaries operate unjustly, inasmuch 
as no person, however well trained in any one line of 
service or usefulness, can give to the world more than 
the service of one person. 

Stock-gambling sometimes yields large sums with 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 281 

nothing more employed than an unenviable talent, but 
instead of its being an advantage to the world, some 
one or more individuals are direct losers by the transac- 
tion. 

The accumulation of millions in the hands of one per- 
son, diminishes the number of property owners, impov- 
erishes the industrious toilers, and concentrates power in 
to the hands of the few, who can use it for the building 
up of aristocracy, and the restriction of the common liber- 
ty, when so disposed. 

But we cannot treat this subject at sufficient length to 
show all its bearings. Individual right to property, in 
whatever way it may have been obtained, so that it is 
held in accordance with the forms of law, is guaranteed 
by all governments. How to equalize it is a difficult 
problem to solve, and requires the clearest heads, and 
the noblest, unselfish hearts. Certainly it is not the right 
way to arouse the jealousy of a badly educated, although 
ill-paid multitude, by revolutionary harangues, to the 
subversion of good order. The co-operation of active 
industry perseveringly carried on, will gradually and 
quietly overcome the evil. 

To prevent the accumulation of enormous fortunes in 
the hands of the few, who thereby absorb the proceeds 
of the labor of the many, a sliding scale of taxation with 
an increasing ratio in proportion to the amount of the 
income is a just measure, the poor of course being ex- 
empt. An income tax, it is true, is complained of by 
those who receive large incomes, because the desire of 
accumulation becomes morbidly active, when the best 
energies of the soul are directed to plans for that pur- 



^82 nature's laws 

pose ; even when a liberal exemption is made, sufficient 
for reasonable needs. The poor, as human beings are 
entitled to more of the comforts of life, and more edu- 
cational advantages than they get. And if the precepts 
of justice are instilled into the minds of the more fortu- 
nate, by plans of education which train the moral facul- 
ties as well as the intellect, mutual rights will be secured, 
selfishness will be overcome, and all can work together 
harmoniously for the common good. 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 283 



P^HT IV^. 



RELIGIOUS ASPECTS AND RELATIONS OF 
SPIRITUALISM. 

COMMENTS ON RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. 

The religious aspects of Spiritualism, in view of the 
great commotion caused in the religious world by its 
teachings, the upturning, indeed, of dogmatic theology 
by the light of its revelations, merits some consideration 
at our hands, before the task which we have undertaken 
can be completed. A short critical sketch of the more 
prominent denominations, more particularly as regards 
their relations to Spiritualism, and their treatment of the 
subject and its believers, will therefore be in place. 

This must, of course, be but -a partial sketch, for it 
would be a literary feat to even enumerate the vast va- 
riety of sects now existing in the world, and an almost 
endless task to point out their distinctive peculiarities, 
great and small. 

It is a remarkable fact that teachers of religion, oc- 
cupying pulpits, from which they can say what they 



284 natuee's laws 

please, without the inconvenience of their utterances be- 
ing questioned or controverted on the spot, and but little 
danger of criticism from their hearers subsequently, 
should object to a truth stated in their own teachings, 
because additional proof of it is given in some other way. 
Now it has not been an uncommon thing for preachers 
to declare that departed friends, come from their heav- 
enly home, and hover about us, affording us consola- 
tion in trouble, and impress the hearts and minds of the 
kindred whom they have left behind, with evidence in 
their continued love and sympathy. Have they been 
sincere in this, meaning just what they said ; or have 
they been hypocritic?J ? Have they merely indulged in 
flights of fancy, when speaking of a sacred subject, and 
thus trifled with the sorrows of the bereaved sufferers of 
their audience ? If their words were not mere sounds, 
and they believed there was a reality in the presence of 
a loving friend in spiritual form, so near to individuals, 
directly within their personal sphere, as to enable them 
to feel an affectionate response to their longings, why 
do they fly off in a tangent when they are told that what 
they have said is true, for here is the proof by circum- 
stances which have tested it. 

But they say, '^this proof that you bring us in the 
shape of a kindly greeting from a beloved one, is a de- 
ception. It is not your dear relative, but the devil in 
disguise who has been assuming the character of anoth- 
er for the purpose of beguiling you." To such the 
answer may be given " Then it must have been the devil 
you spoke of in the pulpit, when you uttered tender 
words of comfort, and you must have been executing 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 285 

the devil's commission when you represented that those 
dear spirits were hovering about the bereaved on earth, 
to relieve the burden of their sorrowing hearts. 

Between the Jewish religion, which had its origin 
many centuries ago, and the Christian religion founded 
by Jesus and Paul, there is a wide difference, as regards 
the Deity. The former believe in one God, who is es- 
sentially their God, and they his favored people, in con- 
tra-distinction to neighboring nations. Many Israelites 
in modern times have become liberalized, so that they 
can fraternize with the Free Religionists. They con- 
sistently retain the seventh day as the sabbath. Jesus 
did not claim to be God, but his followers in the latter 
days claimed for him God-like rank and power. 

There is a wide distinction between the Roman Cath- 
olic branch of the Christian church and the numerous 
sub-divisions of the Protestant branch. All believe 
Jesus to be God — part of a triune God, as they term it 
— co-equal with the Father, if such an idea can be con- 
ceived of by the mind. They shroud it in mystery, but 
require human beings with reasoning powers, to believe 
it without understandinof it. This belief,- t02:etlier with 
belief in the further dogmas of a personal devil, the 
great adversary of God and man, a local Heaven with 
streets paved with gold, shut in by gates, a throne 
whereon the three Gods, three in one, and one in three 
sit, surrounded by saints with harps in their hands, 
singing psalms perpetually ; a local Hell where the vast 
majority of God's children are to burn and suffer in tor- 
ments forever, are doctrines common to most of them. 

"What !" exclaims one, "our Father, the Jehovah of 



285 nature's laws 

the Universe, the Infinite God sacrifice his Son to ap- 
pease his own wrath and vengeance — it is a reproach to 
the character of Deity, and a libel on common sense. 
Shame should crimson the cheek of all those who pro- 
fess to believe in a God of love and mercy, and then 
attribute such an action to him ! " 

Total depravity is a concomitant doctrine. It is nec- 
essary that a nature depraved beyond description should 
be proved, in order to justify the necessity of peopling 
a place of indescribable and endless torment. It requires 
a blind and unreasoning faith to accept such a doctrine, 
but if there is a human being on the face of the earth 
who believes absolutely that a beneficent father could 
originate such a system of rewards and punishments, 
and the fear of endless torture in a burning hell will be 
the means of his refraininsr from evil and doino* a soli- 
tary good deed, let him hug his idol, until he can learn 
to do rio^ht for the sake of ric^ht. This slavish fear is 
unquestionably losing its hold upon the rninds of think- 
ing men and women. This mental slavery reminds us 
of a circumstance w^hich occurred in New Jersey some 
years ago. Travelling with one of the pioneers in Spir- 
itualism, we came in sight of a dark stone church with 
a square belfry. Said he ''that is a prison." We thought 
it a church. "No" he added, "a prison for the soul." 
It looked doleful, and its dismal aspect has haunted us 
almost ever since. The progress of free thought has 
effected an improvement both in the external architec- 
ture of such buildino-s, and the inner arrano^ements. 
The boxes like sheep pens have been replaced by open 
pews or slips, with a more friendly look, although it is 



IN HUMAN LIFE. • 287 

taken advantage of to note the prevailing fashions, and 
gossip about the appearance of strangers. 

The Catholics, in addition to these, attach a divine 
character to the mother of Jesus, in the doctrine of im- 
maculate conception ; and claim supreme authority over 
the church militant, which, as their name imports is uni- 
versal — a curious universality with a local prefix. They 
anathematize every one who is not in the bosom of their 
church, and teach that eternal perdition is the doom of 
all who choose to remain outside of its pale. 

The conflict of church authority with persons ex- 
ercising the healing power independently of it, is some- 
times exhibited in an arbitrary manner. In July 1868 
the sexton of a church in Saratoga, while digging a grave 
for the interment of a person who died of sunstroke was 
himself sun-struck, and removed to his house in a cold 
and unconscious state. The priest, as is customary, and 
two physicians were sent for. A magnetizer passing in 
the meantime was called in. By his manipulations the 
man beijan to revive. Reaction was so strons^ that it 
required two men to hold him. The priest and physi- 
cians arriving, the magnetizer left. Croton oil was ap- 
plied to irritate the surface. In a few weeks he was 
restored, but we think it might have been done in as 
many hours. Three years afterwards the magnetizer 
called again, and although friends were invited in to see 
the person who had done so much towards her liusband's 
restoration, the wife ignored the "power," as her religion 
strictly forbade its use. In reply to the statement that 
her husband's life had been preserved, she said God 
cured him first, and the physicians afterwards. 



288 

The various Christian sects have their foundation laid 
virtually in spiritualistic facts. In the Catholic church 
what is the supposed protection of a patron saint, and 
the interposition of saints with the supreme ruler of the 
Universe but an acknowledgement of communication 
between them and the suppliants here? 

All the Protestant sects acknowledge all that Spirit- 
ualists contend for, as regards ancient times. They 
differ so far as denying their continuance down to the 
present day, but in their pulpit declarations above re- 
ferred to, they are essentially the same. They deny 
and affirm as the essential truth , or the support of a 
formal dogma may require them to do. 

The Swedenborgians are theoretically the most spir- 
itual of all denominations, but like other sects who claim 
to have the pure gospel, they think they alone have true 
spiritual revelations, and that all others teach a false 
spiritualism. The founder of their sect was a seer, and 
received communications from the spirit-world. He 
taught the personality of God, in human form, and 
claimed to have seen and talked with the Lord. He 
had some eccentricities, and his followers are exceeding- 
ly illiberal toward believers in the modern spiritual 
phenomena, exhibiting in this way inconsistency and in- 
tolerance. They set a plate on the table for the depar- 
ted friend, in recognition of the spiritual presence, yet 
they will not allow that friend to communicate w4th them 
through a medium, lest they should entertain a deceiv- 
er. Some go so far as to compare spiritual communi- 
cations to the diffusion of poison. 

Furthermore, while they term the exercise of gifts by 



m HUMAN LIFE. 289 

others the work of the devil, they are willing to call up- 
on such for their healing power in time of affliction. 
Some in all denominations are equally inconsistent. 

We have found this people well-to-do, and genial, 
but inactive as far as entering a protest against, or 
adopting measures to reform the errors of the day. As 
regards the success of such movements, the denomina- 
tion might be blotted out and no loss felt. It is comfort- 
able to slide along easily in this world, but no advance 
would be made, if we had none but fair-weather christ- 
ians. 

What is called the Protestant Episcopal church, the 
State religion in England, is a modified Catholicism. 
Its ritual is beautifully framed, but a dead formalism. 
To hear the humble and penitent responses intoned by 
grandiloquent persons in the highest style of fashion is 
a solemn farce. Yet there are sincere and good people 
who follow the routine because their fathers did. 

The Quakers or "Friends," both Orthodox and Hick- 
site, are a spiritual people, who go on the even tenor 
of their way, speaking and acting as the spirit moves 
them. . They are humane and generally tolerant. Many 
have fully accepted the truths of the modern revela- 
tions. 

The Shakers are more decidedly mediumistic, and have 
had communications even before they became general. 
Ann Lee, their great leader and founder, is regarded with 
as much veneration as Jesus is by Christians. They 
are pure-minded, self-denying and honest. We think 
they lose much in discarding the beautiful in art, and if 
their idea of celibacy was carried out, tlie world would 



290 nature's laws 

before another century, become depopulated. It is their 
conscientious conviction, however, that self-denial in 
this respect is essential to holiness- of life. 

The Second Adventists are now of two sorts, one tak- 
ing the seventh, and the other the first day as the es- 
pecially holy day. Originating with the preaching of 
Miller, they believe in the destruction of the world at 
an early day, and their literal ascension to heaven. Dif- 
ferent days have been set for this event, but the world 
has continued to turn upon its axis. They are general- 
ly bitter opponents of Spiritualism, attributing its phe- 
nomena to the devil, though one of the sub-divisions has 
its medium, through whom spiritual manifestations are 
received. She has been regarded as a prophetess among 
them, and has written a great quantity of manuscript. 
They claim that the cure of diseases has followed prayer. 
A case of cancer was undertaken which proved obstinate, 
but by renewed devotion it disappeared. Her husband 
is the Elder. The ceremonies simply placed her in a 
state of receptivity, so that healing power could be ex- 
erted through her. 

The faith of the Adventists is mixed with a little 
worldly wisdom. Some of them in Miller's time sold 
their property and took good care to get the money for 
it before their balloons were inflated for the trip to heav- 
en. Recently an enthusiastic member published a small 
pamphlet explaining Daniel's vision, which is sold at ten 
cents a copy. He took the precaution to get a copy 
right, thus having an eye to business. We do not 
know whether or not he anticipates inter-mundane bene- 
fits from it. 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 291 

About twenty years ago a farmer near Bost;pn got 
ready to go up higher in Miller's company, and had vis- 
ions, seeing from one to seven angels at a time. One 
day he stood in the road looking upwards, his feet re- 
maining in one position, but his face turning with the 
sun, a woman w^ho expected a remarkable revelation 
through him, standing by and wiping his eyes all day. 
He saw a spot, about ten feet square, with four corners, 
as John saw in Kevelations with angels standing at the 
four " corners " of the earth. 

They are patient waiters, or they might be tempted to 
think that the Lord, as of old, had put a lying spirit in- 
to the mouths of the prophets. 

The Methodists were originally mediumistic, and more 
enthusiastic in their devotions than now. Fashion has 
crept in among them, so that but few retain the primi- 
tive character of the sect. Although they preach love 
to God, inflammatory appeals, based on the fear of an 
endless hell, are still made at their camp meetings. 

These spasmodic gatherings, where the psychological 
power of bold, enthusiastic and fanatical declaimers is 
exercised over persons susceptible to magnetic attraction, 
chiefly females, are sometimes serious in their conse- 
quences, by the havoc they make in unbalancing the 
mind, temporarily or permanently. The subjects are 
readily brought under the control of boisterous spirits, 
who cause them to commit extravagances of which, in 
their sober moments, they are heartily ashamed. Not 
long since, a young woman in Khode Island, after a 
high pressure conversion, entered the pulpit, and seizing 
the minister by the nape of the neck, called him very 



292 . nature's laws 

hard names. Since then she has been quite insane. 
We have already quoted the fact that religious excite- 
ment is the second in degree among the most prolific 
exciting causes of insanity. 

Jealousy has been manifested among the various de- 
nominations on such occasions. The projectors and 
managers, as a matter of course, expect to reap the ben-- 
efit for their own particular denomination. But conver- 
ted sinners must have the liberty to go where they will, 
and so there must be a division of spoils, no one denom- 
ination appropriating the benefit. 

We witnessed a conversion. A young lady brought 
up as a Universalist, who had always lived a good life, 
attended a revival meeting, and "found Jesus." She 
was excited ; life was full of delight ; for four days she 
talked about it incessantly. Friends became surfeited 
with the new manifestation. She was sent to Boston to 
enjoy it with friends of like persuasion ; but she was 
no more contented than among sinners. She was told 
that the devil was trying to overpower her ; she must 
give up to Jesus. Her wailings becoming intolerable, 
a magnetizer was called in, and with the magnetic in- 
fluence of one visit, she was tranquilized, the psycholog- 
ical power broken, and she was restored to her former 
condition. She married and is now happily situated. 

The Unitarians, Free Religionists and Universalists, 
in common with Spiritualists, believe in the final salva- 
tion of the whole human family, without reference to 
creeds. They do not in all cases fraternize with each 
other. We regard the system of the first as Spiritual- 
ism with the spirit left out. The conservative portion 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 293 

« 

seem to be sfettinof fossilized. Some Unitarians and 
Universalists call their denominations "twin sisters." 
Many Free Religionists are also Spiritualists : those 
who are not, treat others with liberality and courtesy.' 
The Universalists seem to be retrograding. If they 
would more freely co-operate with Spiritualists in re- 
formatory and progressive measures, their usefulness 
would be much increased. 

The Congregationalists, on the other liand, are get- 
ting liberalized. Some of their ministers preach Spir- 
itualism, using the inspirational power given them, to 
the general acceptance of their people. Those among 
them who set aside creeds and dogmas, and speak "as 
the spirit giveth utterance " are infusing among the 
masses the germs of an improved life and character. 
Some who are recipients of spirit power get perplexed 
with the antagonism of their previous sectarian predi- 
lections. There is no remedy for them but to accept 
the light of natural truth in all its fulness. 

The Eev. Dr. Hall of this denomination has taken the 
alarm, and published in a recent number of the N. Y. 
Ledger, a one-sided article, cautioning persons against 
the dangerous tendency of investigation of the subject. 
Like many others, he admits the phenomena, which he 
classes with Mesmerism and Magnetism, quoting the 
first report of the French Commission in 1784, but in a 
spirit of unfairness omits to mention the second, contain- 
ing the results of five years' experiment and inquiry, 
published in 1826. He cautions his readers against as- 
sociating such phenomena with the world of spirits ; but' 
why this caution, if spirits do not or cannot communi- 



294 

cate ? He sees harm in explaining the scripture cases of 
the cure of disease by natural law, rather than by mi- 
raculous power. 

Of the peculiarities of the Mormons, none is of partic- 
ular consequence but polygamy. This is a selfish, de- 
basing institution, entirely in opposition to equality of 
right, and spiritual order ; and destructive of happiness 
to most of the female victims. Yet they quote the 
practice of the Bible heroes, such as Solomon and Da- 
vid. Their argument is good — if the latter were right, 
the former must be also : but no one need quote the de- 
basing, lecherous practices of the wise king, nor the 
man after God's own heart as precedents for decency in 
domestic life. 

Indian worship is spiritual. They worship the "great 
spirit ;" many of the manifestations witnessed among 
the civilized occur among them. They have intuitive 
perceptions of truth, and believe in a future life, as in- 
dicated in their burial ceremonies and in other ways. If 
they had been humanely and honestly treated by the cul- 
tured white race, less brutality would have come to 
light, and greater spiritual progress would have been 
made for the benefit of both. 

In every country village, there are from two to four 
different societies, each employing a minister to preach 
the same doctrines, as far as relates to what are called 
essentials. They differ upon non-essentials, such as 
baptism, close communion, free grace, and many really 
minor distinctions. But when we hear a Baptist preach 
*upon the institution, one would think there is no possi- 
bility of salvation without it. Each sect has its building 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 295 

called a church or meeting house, costing a sum of mon- 
ey to erect and keep in order. Now if the extra pecu- 
liarities were trimmed down to what each one considers 
the absolute essentials, would it not be a great economy 
to let one person preach for all, giving a better compen- 
sation than is now paid to each in detail, and appropri- 
ate the surplus, now utterly wasted, for the relief of the 
poor and other works of charity, and mental improve- 
ment. 

Spiritualism, in the sense of sectarianism, is not a re- 
ligion, yet it is one practically. Its adherents claim it 
to be the religion of -the divine humanity. It has no 
general organization, with a specific bond of union, be- 
cause, by common consent, every individual is allowed 
independence of opinion. Being classed by sectarians 
as a sect, we may allude to it in connection with the 
foregoing items. Nearly all the points of interest have 
been already stated in previous pages. 

It has no creed, nor is its teaching dogmatical ; neith- 
er is it on the other hand negative. It has definite char- 
acteristics. It rejects the fearful theories of old theology ; 
but teaches man's responsibility for every act and word. 
If a law is transgressed, the penalty of its infringement 
is inevitable. There is no such thing as compromise. 
It rejects the idea of vicarious atonement, as a theory 
which makes man cowardly and unjust, and represents 
God as vindictive and cruel, destroying faith in his wis- 
dom and fatherhood. 

Its platform is world-wide ; its philosophy compre- 
hends faith in the infinite plans of the Divine ruler, the 
redemption of all human beings from sin and sorrow 



296 nature's laws 

and the progressive development of all towards perfec- 
tion. 

It furnishes a key wherewith to unlock the doors which 
have closed the chambers of mystery. What has been 
enveloped in uncertainty is now positive, and what was 
hidden is now brought to light. Human life here with 
its imperfect adjustment of rewards and punishments 
has been to many, an enigma. Now we can see that it 
is an imperfect development, which another sphere of ex- 
istence will complete. 

Immortality has never been satisfactorily settled in the 
minds of students of the Natural Sciences. Gradual 
development was seen in all the kingdoms of Nature, 
but the spiritual was unseen. Theologians taught that 
hope, or at all events desire, afforded proof. It may be 
admitted that this innate longing was presumptive proof. 
The scriptures teach that only a certain class attain to im- 
mortality, and not that it is the inheritance of all. But 
now we have the proof which from being audible, has be- 
come visible and tangible, so that instead of saying "I 
hope" we may with all assurance say "I know." 

Its progress is steadily onward. Whatever hindrance 
it has met with, has been more from treacherous enemies 
within than from foes without. 

Opposition, because of the innovation which has been 
made upon the prerogatives of privileged orders or indi- 
viduals, is precisely the same as all new and valuable dis- 
coveries have met. Their evangelists have had to suffer 
ignominy and ostracism ; as, history show^s in a marked 
degree with reference to Astronomy. Incredulity beat 
back progress in the applications of Steam and Electric- 



IX niraiAN LIFE. 297 

ity ; and thus the conservative opposition has dealt with 
all who have been instrumental in opening the way to a 
knowledge of the life beyond the tomb ; even to the ex- 
tent of pronouncing them insane, as the enemies of Je- 
sus did eighteen centuries ago. 

There is a point of difference, concerning the use of 
arbitrary power, which should not be passed over. It 
has not unfrequently been declared from the pulpit, that 
when affliction of a particular kind has befallen a fam- 
ily, as in the loss of one who was especially beloved for 
amiable, virtuous and other excellent qualities, it is a 
punishment inflicted by God upon the survivors. A 
passage is quoted containing a self-contradiction, to the 
effect that the Lord chastens those whom he loves. A 
beautiful little child w^ho has been doatingly beloved by 
its mother, is suddenly removed. God punishes the 
mother, it is said, for idolizing the child. If the mortal 
life is destroyed outright, the child itself, entering its 
heavenly abode, has no physical suffering ; but some go 
farther and say that sickness and suffering is brought 
upon the child, although not to a fatal issue, in order to 
punish the mother. To a spiritualist, this is nothing 
less than diabolical. 

With reference to prayer it is not held that the sup- 
plications of any individual are answered by the inter- 
position of what is called a special providence. There 
is no change in the operation of any natural law ; for 
all such laws are immutable. God was the same yes- 
terday as he is to-day, and will so remain forever. 
Everything is in its order, and nothing can be changed 
by a special plea. The act of prayer is, however, one 



298 nature's laws 

of aspiration ; and the frame of mind in which the pe- 
titioner must be, is a condition of receptivity, and is good 
for the soul. If it were possible to get answers to all 
prayers, it could only be when the being implored was 
like a vacillating pendulum, now having one purpose, 
and again another, directly opposite. Nor could some 
of them be allowed without inhumanity — indeed posi- 
tive wickedness. Prayer to merit an answer should be 
consistent with divine law. 

This part of the subject may be summed up in the 
following eloquent passage, which the reader may have 
heard from the lips of one of our best speakers : 

" Spiritualism is a religion — the religion of the divine 
humanity ; it comes to prove how beautiful and holy 
should be our affections, and not how groveling and 
licentious ; it comes to show the stern, strict rtde of 
morality — a law of right more absolute and potential 
than any that has yet been eliminated ; it comes to show 
that the glory of our intellectual achievements is noth- 
ing, so long as we stand baffled by the very power by 
which we investigate our own mind. 

"This is the religion which Spiritualism has come to 
teach us, and as long as we can thus interpret it, I do 
believe it has come to us, in this day, as our savior. It 
has come to save us from the darkness of atheism and 
the grossness of materialism ; to teach us to make every 
hour an hour of worship, and every act of our lives an 
act of prayer ; to prove to us the presence of minister- 
ing ano-els, and the existence, nearness and care of a 
better world, to prove to us the divinity that is within 
us, and to give us a conclusive assurance that though 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 299 

clouds may rise, and stormy oceans roll, there is an ev- 
er-living and deathless tablet within us, upon which 
the law of life and eternity is inscribed ; there is an al- 
tar upon which the fires of inspiration shall never be 
quenched — and that is in our own spirits, instructed by 
the spirits that have gone on before — the full revelation 
of which will preach to us the religion of the divine 
humanity." 



SPIRITUALISM m THE BIBLE. 

There is no book extant, which contains more satis- 
factory proof of Spiritualistic phenomena than the Bible. 
The events therein recorded were given from time to 
time, in a gradual manner, extending over a period of 
more than four thousand years. One revelation is said 
to have been given to Adam, and one to Noah : Abra- 
ham, Isaac and Jacob ; Samuel, David and others also 
received them. Those of each age, received that which 
belonged to them and their time, and nothing more ; 
and so it has continued down to the present time. 

The most remarkable medium of whom we have any 
historical account is Jesus, whose whole life was charac- 
terized by spiritual manifestations. Before - he was 
begotten, his mother was foretold of his birth. An an- 
gel or spirit, informed Joseph concerning him. Soon 
after his birth, angels announced his advent to some 
shepherds. While he was an infant, a spirit gave warn- 
ing to Joseph, to flee with him into Egypt, in order to 
escape Herod's wrath. After the death of Herod, an 



300 nature's laws 

angel came to Joseph and stated that he could return in 
safety. After his baptism there came a voice from heav- 
en, (a spirit) saying, ''this is my beloved son in whom 
I am well pleased ; " angels came and ministered unto 
him. Moses and Elias came and held intercourse with 
him. Who are they but human spirits? An angel came 
to him in the garden to strengthen him, shortly before 
his arrest, as Luke informs us. Matthew says he taught 
the doctrine of special providence, by the interposition 
of angels ; declared that guardian spirits were assigned 
to little children, also that he could pray to the Father, 
and that he would presently give him more than twelve 
legions of angels. 

At his physical death his spirit rose out^of his dead 
material bodj? , and he manifested himself by form and 
voice. He made frequent manifestations of himself to 
his disciples, and Paul declares "that he was seen of 
above five hundred brethren at once." He showed him- 
self to Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary. He 
showed himself alive to the apostles after his passion by 
many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, 
and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom 
of God. The Pharisees said of Jesus "This fellow doth 
not cast out demons, but by Beelzebub, the prince of 
the demons." Jesus was not only surrounded and as- 
sisted by angels in the peformance of his wonderful 
works ; but he asserted that he was a medium for God 
the Father, and that the Father communicated through 
him directly. "The words that I speak unto you, I 
speak not of myself, but the Father that doeth the 
works." 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 301 

Jesus also had physical manifestations. At one time 
it is stated that he walked upon the waters and did not 
sink. The Bible also gives an account of an axe float- 
ing upon the water. 

In Exodus we read "I send an angel before thee, to 
keep thee in the way, and bring thee into the place 
which I have prepared." In Numbers, "The Lord 
sent fiery serpents among the people, and much people 
of Israel died;" then the Lord said to Moses "Make 
thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole ; and it shall 
come to pass that every one that is bitten, when he 
looketh upon it shall live ;" which was fulfilled. In the 
same book we are told that an ans^el would have slain 
Balaam, if his ass had not saved him by speaking. If a 
humble animal like this was selected as the mouth-piece 
of the Lord, can a human being in modern times be 
degraded, when controlled by a higher power to speak? 
Balaam prophesied the happiness of Israel, and con- 
cerning the star of Jacob. Again, "Moses spake unto 
the Lord, saying, ^Let the Lord, the God of all flesh 
set a man over the cono'res^ation.'" * * "Take thee 
Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, 
and lay thine hand upon him." An angel rebuked the 
people at Bochim (Judges ch. ii.) In I. Samuel, it is 
stated that Saul put away those who had familiar spir- 
its, and wizards out of the land, and then plead with the 
woman to call up the spirits, promising when detected 
by the clear vision of the medium, not to harm her, if 
she would yield to the influence of the spirits. After 
calling up the spirit of Samuel, he consulted him on his 
future prospects. Saul was satisfied of the truth of 



302 nature's laws 

Spiritualism in his day, as he recognized Samuel at once 
by the description of the seeing medium. 

In other portions of the Old Testament there are nu- 
merous indications of spirit influence. Solomon has 
two visions ; Jehu prophesies against Baasha ; Ahab is 
seduced by false prophets and is slain ; Isaiah has a vis- 
ion, and the birth of the future child Jesus, was sup- 
posed to be foretold ; an angel slays the Assyrians ; 
Sennacherib's destruction is prophesied ; Jeremiah also 
prophesied evils, the utter ruin of the Jews, and a hard 
seige ; the restoration of the scattered flock ; the seven- 
ty years' captivity ; he prophesied against Edom etc. 
Hananiah prophesied falsely ; one of the prophets was 
imprisoned for so doing. 

Exekiel (ch. ii.) says "Then the spirit entered into 
me, and set me upon my feet, and spake with me." 
What is this but mediumship ? A famine was foretold ; 
visions were seen, women exercised their gifts as proph- 
etesses; Ezekiel spoke in prophecy against Jerusalem. 
In the same book sio^hino: is mentioned as an emotion of 
the prophet, and in a symbolical way. The sigh is one 
of the most common physical circumstances in the expe- 
riences of mediums now, when taking on another's con- 
dition. Nebuchadnezzar forgot his dream : it was re- 
vealed to Daniel, with the interpretation. Daniel's vis- 
ion was interpreted by Gabriel. So now mediums have 
visions which other mediums interpret. Daniel was 
comforted by an angel, as are modern mediums. 

Amos, a herdsman, was told to go and prophesy unto 
the people of Israel ; Micah spoke of false prophets ; an 
angel sent to measure Jerusalem foretold its flourishing 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 303 

condition ; at one tinae it was purged of unclean spirits. 

The Apocrypha is filled with prophecy, and other 
spiritual manifestations. We read "For the good an- 
gel will keep him company, and his journey will be 
prosperous, and he shall return safe," and similar pas- 
sages. After a communication had been given, it con- 
tinues "Then she made an end of weeping," thus 
exhibiting confidence in the spirit, whose communication 
had moved the hearer to tears. He tells them that he 
was an angel, and was seen no more. 

In the New Testament, we have much more proof that 
spirits held converse with earth's inhabitants. The an- 
gel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and 
rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 
His countenance was like lightening, and his raiment 
white as snow, and for fear of him the keepers did shake, 
and became as dead men ; and the angel answered and 
said unto the women, Fear not ye : for I know that ye 
seek Jesus that was crucified. He is not here : for he 
is risen, as he said ; Come see the place where the Lord 
lay ; and go quickly and tell hig disciples that he is ris- 
en from the dead. And they departed quickly from the 
sepulchre with fear and great joy ; and did run to 
bring his disciples word." 

And as they went to tell the disciples, behold Jesus 
met them, saying. All hail ! and they came and held him 
by the feet and worshipped him. Some doubted that 
spirits could return after the change called death. 

Jesus had great inner perception and clear sight. By 
his psychometric power he could read the lives of per- 
sons as clearly as if from a book, and divine their mo- 



304 

tives. When eating the passover he said "Verily I say 
unto you, one of you that eateth with me shall betray 
me." They began to be sorrowful. (See Matt. ch. 
xxvi.) He told the woman at the well, facts concerning 
her social relations. On his reminding her that she had 
'several husbands, she went away and reported that he 
was God. Spiritual clairvoyants and psychometrists 
state to their visitors not only the number of their wives, 
but point out their associates, and reveal what they had 
supposed to be the secrets of their lives. 

Jesus "walked not after theilesh but after the spirit," 
and religious teachers exhort us to take him as our ex- 
emplar, yet in these days, if any one speaks of walking 
after, or according to the spirit, they call it by an un- 
holy name, and caution their parishioners against it. 

Paul saw that his brethren did not fully appreciate 
spiritual gifts. He spoke to them as " unto carnal," and 
not spiritual persons. He considered them as babes, 
which had to be fed with milk and not with meat. He 
speaks also of being absent in the body, but present in 
spirit. It seems therefore that he was a believer in the 
appearance of the "double." 

It is stated that "the spirits of the prophets, are sub- 
ject to the prophets." In another place it is asked "Are 
ye so foolish, having begun in the spirit, are ye now 
made perfect in the flesh ? " Falling back into the do- 
minion of the passions was a fault among the christians, 
as it has been the fault of ministers and mediums in mod- 
ern times. 

The following passages contain good precepts : *Tf 
we live in the spirit, let us also walk in the spirit ; " 



IN HUMAN LIFE. 305 

"Despise not prophesying;" "quench not the spirit;" 
"Prove all things, hold fast that which is good." Paul 
prophesies that in the latter times some shall depart from 
the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrine of 
devils ; speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their con- 
science seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and 
commanding to abstain from meats. He says "neglect 
not the gift that is in thee, which was given by prophe- 
cy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery." 

Paul's belief underwent a change while on earth, which 
clearly shows that his knowledge was not perfect, and 
when partially initiated into the spiritual philosophy, he 
could realize his imperfection, and so go on towards a 
perfect state of knowledge and wisdom. 

Peter admonishes his hearers of the gifts and promi- 
ses, and foretells the destruction of false teachers. He 
says, "try the spirits by the Catholic faith." Jude fore- 
tells the punishment of certain false teachers. John 
was commanded to write to the angels of the church. 
He has a vision, wherein the four angels are loosed. 

St. John, called the divine, is said to have seen in 
vision, angels of different grades of knowledge. In one 
place he says "And I John saw these things, and heard 
them, and when I had heard and seen them, I fell down 
to worship before the feet of the angel, which showed 
me these things. Then saith he unto me. See thou do 
it not, for I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren 
the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this 
book : worship god. And he saith unto me. Seal not 
the saying of the prophecy of this book, for the time is 
at hand." Afterwards he says "Neither add too nor 



306 nature's laws 

diminish from the prophecy." Here is an apparent 
contradiction. The passages may be compared with 
I. Kings ch. xxii. v. 21,22. The angel did not make 
the vision clear, hence much contention, misunderstand- 
ing, and opposing argument has been caused among 
many who regard the Bible as an infallible book, to be 
accepted as authority for all generations and ages. 

In a part of this vision, four angels are described as 
standing on the four "corners" of the earth, making its 
form square. The angel who showed John the scenes 
of the vision handed him a book, saying "Take it and 
eat it up ; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it 
shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey." Modern medi- 
ums have sometimes been ridiculed for their enigmatical 
visions, but it would be difficult to find anything more 
fantastic than this, and other strange figurative passa- 
ges with which the vision abounds. 

We have not fully quoted the passages in reference 
to gifts, as these have been already embraced in the 
pages of "Vital Magnetic Cure." 



IN HUMAN LIFE. f^Ol 



CONCLUSION. 



We have endeavored to place in consecutive order, 
the facts which have been developed in reference to Spir- 
itualism, and the various arguments which have been 
adduced, first against its claims to the merit of a truth- 
ful natural revelation, and secondly, those in its support, 
leaving the reader to compare them, and deduce his 
conclusions in all fairness. The unwise conduct and 
conversation of neither set of controversialists have been 
concealed, but openly stated, so that the subject itself 
might stand upon its own merits, unaffected by the in- 
dividualism of its advocates or opponents. 

It was found necessary to abridge certain portions in 
order to keep within the limits assigned for the book. 

The scriptural portion is submitted, for the same rea- 
son, almost without comment, though there are passa- 
ges which need amplification. 

The reader having before him both sides, can study 



308 nature's laws 

the facts, the phenomena and the philosophy of the sub- 
ject, and by exercising his reason in the premises, arrive 
at a just conclusion, independently of all authority. 
Whatever v^ill stand the test of fair criticism may be al- 
lowed to stand, and be placed among the annals of sci- 
entific and religious truth. Whatever fails to pass this 
ordeal should be discarded as dross. 

'•Let truth and falsehood grapple; whoever knew truth to be 
put to the worse m a free and open encounter." 



VITAL MAGNETIC CURE. 

AN EXPOSITION OF VITAL MAGNETISM ; 

A.ND ITS APPLICATION TO THE TREATMENT OF MENTAL AND PHYSICAL 

DISEASE. 

BY A MAGNETIC PHYSICIAN. 

A more useful book for the student or family cannot well be found. 
It is selling well, and gives satisfaction. It is a work that will not lose 
its interest in an age. — Banner of Light. 

There can be no doubt of the general and eager interest everywhere 
manifest in the infant science of vital magnetism. No skepticism op- 
poses the facts slowly brought forward concerning it. Gratifying as 
the book is in both manner and matter, its glimpses and hints do 
scarcely more than whet the spirit of inquiry to know more. — Woman's 
Journal. 

I am much pleased with it; consider it a very useful book, and one 
that the public need. — Mrs. Caroline Cobb. 

This book deals with a subject that will grow strongly in fa- 
vor when rightly presented, — since the tendency is to the disuse 
of medicines, so far as can be, in the treatment of disease. — So. 
Boston Inquirer. 

This is an interesting book, and contains useful hints in regard 
to health a nd sickness, so far as they refer to human beings and 
hmnan agencies. — Boston Investigator. 

It contains much valuable information for the general reader. 
— Am. Spiritualist. 

Its high moral tone must be an additional recommendation of 
the work. That the human magnetic force, when properly un- 
derstood and applied, is a powerful curative agent ; especially in 
all nervous complaints, is now too well established to be denled- 
and the writer of Vital Magnetic Cure, by an array of facts 
in his experience and that of others, has greatly helped to 
strengthen if not to settle the fact of its utility, both for the pre- 
servation of health and the removal of disease. — David Plumb. 

A very valuable work, entitled as above, which deserves to be 
widely read, if not for the stand t aken by the author in favor of a 
somewhat questionable remedial agent certainly, however, for 
the many suggestions lie throws out respecting the preservation 
of health. The time will come when it will be better known, 
and we therefore commend just such books as the one now 
spoken of. because they will at least familiarize people with that 
thing which will some day be better understood.— Milford 
Journal. 

I have read during the last ten years nearly everything pub- 
lished on the application of Magnetism to the cure of disease, 
and I deem this work an important addition to the literature of 
the subject, and of great practical value to every one who would 
learn how to successfully use this most efficient sanative agency. 
W. F. Evans M. D. Author of Mental Cure. 

First edition exhausted in a few weaks. 
For sale by BY Wm. WHITE & Co. Price $1 50. Postage 20c. 



THE MENTAL CURE. 

ILLUSTRATING THE INFLUENCE OF THE MIND ON THE BODY, 
BOTH IN HEALTH AND DISEASE, 

AND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL METHOD OF TREATMENT. 

By rev. W. F. EVANS. ^ 

This book has created a lively interest, not only 
among spiritualists, but in the minds of members of the 
medical profession, and among persons of various reli- 
gious denominations. It is an able treatise, and should 
be in the library of every thinking person, sick or well. 
It has received the enconiums of able critics. A re- 
viewer in the Banner of Light says : 

"For originality of thought and treatment, for a cer- 
tain intrepid directness which is the chief merit of a 
treatise of this character, and for a plain practicalness 
that commends its broad and profound truths, together 
with its more acute and intricate speculations, to the 
general readers, we think this volume will take its place 
at once among the remarkable productions of the day, 
and vindicate its reputation by the marked revolution it 
will set on foot in reference to common life and think- 

" Along with this discussion, he sets forth the mode of 

reo^ulatinor the intellectual and affectional nature of the 

invalid, under any system of medical treatment." 

This is one of the best books we have on our shelves. — E. P. 
Journal. 

Table of contents annexed. About 1500 copies of 
first edition sold. A second edition to be issued soon. 
364 pp. For sale by Wm. White & Co. Publishers, 
158 Washington St. Boston. N". Y. Agents, The 
American News Company, 119 Nassau St. Price 
$1.50. Postage 20c. 



COISTTENTS. 

CHAPTER I. 

THE RELATION OF THE HUMAN MIND TO GOD. 

Importance of a Knowledge of God. — The Central Life. — 
Ubiquity of it, — The whole Idea of God included in Love 
and Wisdom. — He is the Primal Cause. — The Divine 
Unity. — Tri-personality impossible. — Man a Divine In- 
carnation. — God in Christ. — Humanization of Deity. — 
All men Sons of God. — Teaching of the Oriental Philoso- 
phy. — Evolution of the Divine Element. — Jesus intro- 
duced a Higher Type of Humanity. — The AUness of God. 

— His Personality and what is meant by it. — His Omni- 
presence. — Where to find Him. — Madam Guyon. — The 
two Aspects of Human Nature. — Medical Science Super- 
ficial. — The Root of our Maladies 19 

CHAPTER II. 

THE MIND IMMATERIAL, BUT SUBSTANTIAL. 

What is meant by Immaterial Substance. — What by Matter. 

— The Properties of Matter are reducible to the Idea of 
Force. — Mind the Exhibition of a higher Force. — All 
Force is Spiritual. — It Originates in God. — Love and 
Wisdom the First Substance and Force. — Immortality. — 
The Ground of it. — Life a Persistent Force. — Its recep- 
tive Forms Evanescent. — The Brotherhood of Man. — 
Universal Fatherhood of God. — Moral Influence of such 
an Idea 27 



VI CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER III. 

ON THE FORM OF THE MIND. 

Mind not a mathematical Point nor a Monad. — The Relation 
of Substance and Form, — Perfection of Form belongs only 
to the Realm of Spirit. — The Soul the inner Manhood.— 
Humanity of Angels. — Disembodied Souls in the Human 
Form. — Proved by its being a Necessity of Thought. — • 
Formlessness and Nonentity equivalent. — The Spirit an 
Organization. — Omnipresence of it in the Body. — Pla- 
tonic Idea of it. — Pythagorean Conception of it. . 34 

CHAPTER IV. 

THE DIVISION OF THE MIND INTO TWO DEPART- 
MENTS. 
The two primary Faculties. — The Love. — The Intellect. — ^ 
All Love and Truth Divine. — Why they appear our own. 

— The Divine Nucleus of our Being. — Twofold Division 
of the Mind. — The Will and Love identical. — Motive 
Power and the Love. — The self- determining Power. — 
The only Life. — What is it to will a thing? — Practical 
Value of the Doctrine 39 

CHAPTER V, 

THE RELATION OF THE INTELLECT TO THE 

LOVE. 
Derivation of the Intellect from the Love. — Importance of 
this Truth in Philosophy. — Swedenborg. — G. H. Lewes. 

— Love the Center of our Being. — The Will and Under- 
standing are like Substance and Form. — Relation of 
Thought to Affection, — Reaction of the Intellect upon thb 
Love. — Correlative Spiritual Forces. — Freedom is Har- 
mony. — Spiritual Health and Disease. — Relation of our 
Mental and Physical States. — Importance of regulating 



CONTENTS. VU 

the Loves. — Solifidianism based on a wrong Conception 
of our Mental Nature 45 

CHAPTER VI. 

THE DOCTRINE OF DEGREES. 

Three distinct Planes of Mental Being. — Difference between 
this and the Common Trichotomous Division of the Mind. 
— Each Degree a distinct Mental Nature. — The Outermost 
Range. — The Senses. — Animality. — The Psychical man. 
— The Spiritual. — Consciousness. — Second Degree. — The 
Rational Mind. — Emancipation of the Intellect from the 
Dominion of the Senses. — Somnambulism. — Clairvoyance. 

— Cognition of Spiritual Things. — Progress an Evolution. 

— Education an Educing of what is within. — The Phe- 
nomena of the inmost Degree. — Perception or Intuition. 

— All truth self-evident to it. — The Divine Internal. — 
The Conjunction of the Divine and Human. ... 50 

CHAPTER VII. 

THE SPIRITUAL BODY— ITS NATURE AND USE. 

The mind the real Selfhood. — Intermediate Essences. — The 
Spiritual Body a Mediating Principle. — The Proof of its 
Existence. — Testimony of Paul. — Of Swedenborg. — Nei- 
ther insisted upon. — Objection answered. — Shown to be 
the Seat of Sensation. — It is the prior seat of all Patholog- 
ical States of the external Organism. — Testimony of Clair- 
voyance. — Of Consciousness. — The Mental Phenomena 
following Amputations. — Explanation of them. — Proof 
of Immortality from this Source. — A Succession of Organ- 
ized Forms in Man. — The Osseous System. — The Muscu« 
lar. — The Venous and Arterial. — The Cerebro-Nervous. 

— Being is real and vital as it becomes Interior. . 58 



X COiNTENTS. 

CHAPTER Xir. 

THE HEART AND LUNGS, AND THEIR RELATION 
TO THE LOVE AND' INTELLECT. 

Two Universals of the Mind. — Answering Organs of the 
Body. — The Extension of the Heart into the System. — 
The Veins and Arteries. — The Heart corresponds to the 
Affectional Nature. — Proof. — Influence of our Emotional 
States upon its Action. — And upon Secretion and Nutri- 
tion. — Subtle Element of the Blood. — The Diffusion of 
the Pulmonary Substance. — The Lungs derived from the 
Heart. — They. Answer to the Intellect. — Effect of the 
States of Thought upon Respiration. — Relation of Respi- 
ration to Voluntary Motion. — To the Sensibility of the 
Nerves. — Influence of Anaesthetic Agents. — How the 
Mind can increase or diminish vital Action. — Sympathetic 
Movement of the Heart and Lungs. — How to regulate 
the Action of the Heart. — How to change our Emotions. 

— Influence of our Mental States upon the vital Functions. 
— True Method of Study in Natural Science. — The New 
Age. — Immanence of the Spiritual World. . . , 109 

CHAPTER XIII. 

CORRESPONDENCE OF THE STOMACH AND THE 
MIND. 

The Office of the Stomach. — The Digestive Process. — What 
answers to it in the Mental Economy ? — Therapeutic In- 
fluence of new Ideas. — Mental Medicine. — Two Stomachs. 

— Dual Nature of Memory. — Common Forms of Speech 
Recognizing the Relation of the Stomach to the Memory. 
— Mental and Bodily Growth. — Mental Vigor necessary 

to Digestion. — Perpetual Spiritual Adolescence. — What 
is Old Age? — How to be always Young. — Diseases which 
are attended with a Loss of the Power of Attention and 
Memory. 120 



CONTENTS. XI 

CHAPTER XIV. 

THE REFLEX INFLUENCE OF THE STOMACH 
UPON THE MIND. 

Sensitiveness of the Epigastric Nerves. — Seeress of Prevorst. 
— Reading with the Pit of the Stomach. — The interior Es- 
sence of things. — Their Influence. — Psychometry. — Ef- 
fect of Medicines held in the Hand. — Philosophy of Amu- 
lets. — Action of the hidden Properties of things upon the 
Reticular Membranes of the Stomach. — -Effect of Food 
upon the Mind. — The Philosophy of Dieting. — Mental 
Stimulus necessary to Digestion. — The Condition of the 
Stomach and our Feelings. — Action and Reaction. — The 
Law of Sympathy between us and those in the Interior 
Realms. — Effect of happy Frames of Mind upon the Epi- 
gastric Nerves. — Mental States attending Various Condi- 
tions of the Stomach. — Hunger and its Mental Effects. — 
The States of the Stomach and Crime. — Hygienic Value 
of Cheerfulness and other Affectional States. . . . 132 



CHAPTER XV. 

EXCRETIONS OF THE BODY AND THE MIND, 
AND THEIR RELATION. 

The Excreting Organs and their Use. — Their irregular 
Action a fruitful Source of Disease. — Influence of the 
Mind upon them. — The Lower Intestine and the Brain. — 
Influence of certain Mental States upon it. — Diseases of 
the Rectum and their Mental Cause. — How Cured. — 
Office of the Liver. — Chemical Nature of the Bile. — Sym- 
pathy between the Liver and Kidneys. — Connection of 
the Liver with the Brain. — Correspondence with the 
Mind. — Influence of Conscience upon the Hepatic Func- 
tions. — State of the Mind in Duodenitis. — The Cure. — 



XU CONTENTS. 

Melancholy and the Liver. — Elimination of the efiete 
Products of the Mind. — Mental Influence upon the Renal 
Functions. — Diabetes. — The Connection of the Kidneys 
with the Brain. — Causality. — Excretory Action of the 
Intellect. — Renewal of the Spirit. — Perpetual Progress. 

..... 144 

CHAPTER XVI. 

THE SKIN. ITS CONNECTION WITH THE INTER- 
NAL ORGANS, AND CORRESPONDENCE WITH 
THE MIND. 

Structure and Functions of the Skin. — Amount Secreted by 
it daily. — The Period in which the Body is renewed. — 
The Chemical Laboratory of the System. — Unrecognized 
Sources of Nutrition. — How prolonged Abstinence has 
been sustained. — Efi'ect of Medicines applied to the Skin. 
— Psychological Remedies. — Cellular Tissue. — Mucous 
and Serous Membranes. — The Physiological Condition in a 
Common Cold. — The Action of the Mind upon the Skin. — 
A Psychological Sweat. — Effect of Sleep. — State of the 
Mind underlying Consumption. — Control over the Action 
of the Skin by the Magnetizer. — Mind the only Causal 
Agent. — The Ablutions of the Jewish and Mohammedan 
Laws. — Spiritual Effects of Bathing 161 

CHAPTER XVII. 

THE SENSES. THEIR CORRESPONDENCE, AND 
INDEPENDENT OR SPIRITUAL ACTION. 

Sensation a Spiritual Phenomenon. — Vision without the ex- 
ternal Eye. — Somnambulism. — Independent Clairvoy- 
ance. — The Relation of the Eye to the Intellect. — Sym- 
pathy of the Eye with other Organs. — The Spiritual Eye 
can discern Material Things. — The Sense of Hearing. — 



CONTENTS. Xlii 

The Mental Act underlj-ing the Sensation of Sound. — Dif- 
ferent Forms of Deafness. — How to Treat them. — The 
Connection of Voluntary Hearing with the Organ of Cau- 
tiousness. — The seat of Otalgia. — Clairaudience or Spir- 
itual Hearing. — The Sense of Touch. — Its general Diffu- 
sion. — Its Kelation to the Love. — Communication of life 
by the Hand. — The sense of Smell. — Its Spiritual Action. 
— Taste. — Its Use. — The Spiritual Senses. — How they 
are opened. — Diseased Conditions in which th« Inner 
Senses are emancipated 176 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

THE MYSTERY OF LIFE EXPLAINED. 

Theories Concerning the Nature of Life. — Not the Result of 
Organization. — The Mosaic Theory. — Electro- Biology. — 
The Nervous Fluid. — Definition of Life by Bichat. — Cole- 
ridge. — Schelling. — D« Blainville. — Comte. — Herbert 
Spencer. — Swedenborg. — Its inmost Degree is Love. — 
Organic and Inorganic Forces. — Life a Force. — Correla- 
tion and Equivalence of Mental Forces. — Influence of the 
Emotive Life upon the Intellect. — Relation of Vital Force 
and Animal Heat. — Health is Equilibrium. — Disease an 
Inharmony. — Source of Animal Heat. — Heat a Form of 
Motion. — The Vital Movements. — The Heat of the Sun 
the Living Force of Nature. — God's Love an all-pervad- 
ing Life. — The External lives from the Internal. — Effect 
of Sensation upon the Body. — Influence of the Emotions 
and Affections upon the organic Functions. — Secretion. — 
Muscular Contractility, — The Sexual Instinct. — Its Influ- 
ence upon the Involuntary Physiological Processes. 
Importance of Regulating the Affections. — Impartation of 
Life. — Disease and Selfishness. — The Divine Order of 
Human Existence 198 



XIV CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XIX. 

MENTAL METAMORPHOSIS; OR HOW TO INDUCE 
UPON OURSELVES ANY DESIRABLE MENTAL 
STATE. 

Belatiou of Mental Disturbance to Disease. — Therapeutic 
Spiritual Forces. — Our Emotions involuntary. — Self-Con- 
version. T- A General Law stated.^ Relation of Form to 
Internal Character. — The Lesson taught us by the Stage. 
— Expression of our Inward States by the Face. — How to 
effect a Change in our Feelings. — Hygienic Value of the 
Law. — -Inspiration and Respiration. — Soul and Breath. 
— Peculiar Sensation attending Psychological Inflaence. — 
Nearness of the Inner Realm. — How to be Inspired.^ 
Breathing of the Soul. — The Respiration peculiar to all 
de pressing Mental States. — How to relieve ourselves of 
them. — Usefulness of the Swedish Movements. . . 222 

CHAPTER XX. 

THE COMMUNICATION OF LIFE AND OF SANA- 
TIVE MENTAL INFLUENCE. 

The Primal Source of Life. — Man imparts life to all below 
him. — Vital Force Communicable. — How Jesus gave his 
Life a Ransom for Many. — His cures not Miraculous in 
the Theologi<;al Sense. — The royal Touch for Scrofula. — 
Sanative Influence of the Hand. — Knowledge is Power. — 
Mental Conditions necessary to a Cure. — Faith a Spiritual 
Force. — Its Therapeutic Influence. — The Cure of a Par- 
alytic by Davy with a Thermometer. — Effect of Fear. — 
Case of Hydropobia caused by it. — Experiment with foui 
Russian Criminals. — The Rose-water Cure. — Vital Force 
and animal Heat correlative. — How Heat is generated 
and transmitted.— Therapeutic Influence of Friction. — 
Compression. — Percussion. — Motion. — Adaptation of the 



CONTENTS. XV 

Hand as an Instrument for Communicating Life. — Effi- 
ciency of the Duplicated Movements accounted for. — How 
to Induce upon a Patient the proper State of Mind. — Po- 
larity of our Feelings. — Inverted Action of the Cerebral 
Organs. — Eestoration of the Equilibrium. — Mental Vi- 
bration. — How Jesus healed the Sick. — Health is Conta- 
gious. — Spiritual Inoculation. — Mental Leaven. . 237 

CHAPTER XXI. 

THE MIND NOT LIMITED BY SPACE IN THE 
TKANSMISSION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL AND 
SANATIVE INFLUENCES. 

Freedom of the Mind from Spatial Eestraint. — Spiritual 
Presence. — Mental Locomotion. — Physiological influence 
of Psychological Impressions. — Transmission of Mental 
Force. — The Model Man and Great Physician. — • His Free- 
dom from Material Limitations. — The Interior State in- 
tensely Positive. — The Prayer-Cure. — The Laws govern- 
ing it. — Love the Healing Power. — The Mind to be first 
Healed. — The Mystery of the Cures wrought by Jesua 
explained. — How to Convert Souls without a Miracle. — 
Nature of the Mental Sphere. — Healing at a Distance. — 
The Laws by which it is Effected. — Directions given in 
regard to it. — Communication of abnormal States by 
Sympathy. — Practical Value of the Law. . . . 259 

CHAPTER XXII. 

APPETITES, INTUITIONS AND IMPRESSIONS, AND 
THEIR USE. 

Essential Spirituality of Man. — The Vis Medieatrix Nalurce 
is a Mental Force. — The Fetal Growth. — Incubation. 
— The Nature and Office of the Appetites. — Their Pre- 
scriptions. — Illustrations. — Nutriment for the Mind. -^ 



XVI CONTENTS. 

Spiritual Starvation. — Gibeonitish Crusts. — Voices with- 
out a Sound. — Spiritual Impressions. — A deep and calm 
Revealing. — A Law of the Spiritual Life. — The Com- 
munion of Saints. — Education of our Intuitions. — The 
Inner Language. — The Cogitatio Loquens. — Intuitional 
Prescriptions. — Mental Telegraphing. — Madam Guyon 
and her Confessor. — Development of our hidden Powers. 

. . . , 278 

CHAPTER XXIII. 
THE SANATIVE POWER OF WORDS. 

The Words we utter embody our Mental Force. — They are 
the Index of Character. — How our Mental States affect 
our Words. — Their Permanence in the Memory. — Their 
lasting Influence. — Fact given by Coleridge. — Dr. Rush. 
— The Power of Written Words. — Books have Life. — ■ 
Effect^, of it upon the Pyschometer. — Prescriptions of 
Frederica Hauffe. — Psychical Remedies. — The Creative 
Utterances of Jesus. — Frederic Von Schlegel's Philosophy 
of the Communicated Word. — Therapeutic Force of 
Kind Words.— Testimony of Baglivi 296 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

THE RELATION OF MENTAL FORCE TO PHYSIC- 
AL STRENGTH AND HOW TO CURE GENERAL 
DEBILITY. 

The Amount of Force generated in the System. — Whence 
Produced. — The Abnormal State called General Debility. 
— What is Strength? — Case cited to show its Mental 
Origin. — The Mental Faculties that influence the Will- 
Force. — Their Importance. — The Cerebral Organ of 
Muscular Motion. — The Relation of respiration to Mus- 
cular Force.— What is Swooning ? — The Force of the Bod- 
ily Movement proportioned to the Mental Energy. — The 



CONTENTS. XVll 

Effect of Respiration upon the Vital Processes. — Nervous- 
ness a Mental State. — Its cure. — Relaxation of the Ab- 
dominal Muscles. — Misplacement of the Internal Organs. 

— Depressing Mental States the Cause. — How to get rid 
of the Supporter and Body Brace. — Relation of the Mind 
to Diseases of Diminished Vitality. — Dr. Combe. . 309 

OHAPTEK XXV. 

SLEEP AS A MENTAL STATE, ITS HYGIENIC 
VALUE, AND HOW TO INDUCE IT. 
Bleep Defined. — Its Influence upon the involuntary Physio- 
logical Processes. — Nutrition. — Circulation. — The Ex- 
creting Organs. — Its Remedial Value. — The Obstacles 
to it. — Cold Feet. — Tea and Coffee. — The Law that 
Governs in inducing it upon Ourselves. — Position of the 
Eye. — Its Effect upon the Cerebrum. — The Respiration 
in Sleep. — In the Magnetic Trance. — The moral Influ- 
ence of Sleep. — The Order in which the Senses lose their 
Susceptibility to Impression. — Practical Directions based 
upon this Law 325 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

THE WILL-CURE, ACTIVE AND PASSIVE. 

f • ■ 

Connection of the Organs with the Mind. — How to affect 
their Functional Action. — The Will-Force and the Stom- 
ach and Intestinal Canal. — Cause of Coldness and Weak- 
ness. — The Cure. — The Passive Will-Cure, — A General 
Law of Health Stated. — Voluntary Movements Fatiguing, 

— The Involuntary Actions not so. — How to take up thy 
bed and walk. — How to walk a hundred miles a day. — 
The Interior State. — Its healthful Influences. — Passive 
Knowledge. — Influx of better Emotional States. — The 
Spirit with which to approach the Inner World. — Im- 
portance of our Relations to it 335 



XVlll CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XXVII. . 

THE INFLUENCE OF THE SPIRITUAL WORLD 
UPON MENTAL HEALTH AND DISEASE. 

A Self-Evident Truth. — The Law of Sympathy. — How 
Jesus bore Men's Sicknesses. — Obsession. — Its Influence 
in causing Disease. — How cured. — Experiences of 
Swedenborg. — What is a Demon ? — Psychological Laws 
stated. — Scriptural Statements respecting destroying 
Angels. — They could save Life as well. — The Medium 
through which Mind acts upon Matter. — Ponderable 
Bodies moved by Spiritual Forces. — The Release of Peter. 
—Paul and Silas. — The Rolling away of the Stone at the 
Entrance of the Sepulcher. — The Availability of such 
unseen Forces. — Their Useful Employment. — The Plates 
of Copper and Zinc. — Positive and Negative Mental 
Forces. — Angelic Influence in the Cure of disordered 
Spiritual States. — The Nature of Goodness. — The Angelic 
Ministry. — Vital Connection with the other World. — 
Nearness of the unseen Realm. — Longfellow. . . 347 



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